'Bajaj' to ride off into the sunset<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to replace the
\nbajaj (three-wheeler motorcycle taxi) with a four-wheeler
\ntransportation vehicle, called Kancil, the City's Land
\nTransportation and Traffic Control Agency (DLLAJ) chief Buyung
\nAtang said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"It's like a golf buggy which can seat two passengers and the
\ndriver. We will discuss the technical matters of Kancil next
\nweek,\" Buyung told reporters.<\/p>\n
He said the four-wheeled taxi would still use gasoline, but
\nthe administration expected it could be converted into a gas-
\nfueled vehicle.<\/p>\n
He said the administration decided to replace the bajaj, which
\nis gasoline-fueled, as it contributed to the city's air
\npollution.<\/p>\n
\"The replacement is aimed at supporting the city's blue sky
\nprogram,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The official said the decision was made also because the bajaj
\nwas not included in the list of public transportation vehicles
\nstipulated in city bylaws.<\/p>\n
He said the bylaw only permitted vehicles with at least four
\nwheels to be operated as public transportation.<\/p>\n
\"Kancil, if approved, will operate in residential areas,
\ncompared to the bajaj which is often seen in main streets,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Kancil, which has a street price of Rp 30 million (US$3,000)
\neach, will be sold to bajaj owners so that their drivers would
\nnot lose their jobs, he said.<\/p>\n
Buyung said 70 percent of the components of the vehicle, which
\nwas designed by Indonesian aircraft manufacturer PT Industry
\nPesawat Terbang Nusantara (now PT Dirgantara Indonesia), are
\nlocally made.<\/p>\n
\"Only a part of Kancil's engine, which is 180 centimeters by
\n180 centimeters, will be imported, while the majority of the
\nparts could be produced locally,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Governor Sutiyoso said the administration plans to
\nreplace the bajaj as well as becak (pedicab).<\/p>\n
\"But the alternative vehicle should be environmentally
\nfriendly, using gas as its fuel,\" Sutiyoso told reporters after
\nperforming Friday prayers, adding that the Bajaj has been
\noperating in the city's streets for years.<\/p>\n
He said the administration had earlier studied the possibility
\nof importing a gas-fueled vehicle from China to replace the
\nbajaj, but it preferred to use vehicles that could be produced
\nhere.<\/p>\n
There are 12,000 bajaj registered with the city
\nadministration, but the actual figure could reach 20,000.<\/p>\n
The city administration stopped issuing new permits for the
\nbajaj in 1992. (jun)<\/p>",
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