Burden of commuting<\/p>\n
According to Law No. 38\/2004 on roads, evaluation and
\nadjustment of road tolls is made once every two years based on
\nthe rate of inflation. This means that the increase in road tolls
\nis legal as the words 'evaluation' and 'adjustment' in paragraph
\nthree of the law is meant to accommodate such increases.<\/p>\n
Even as the tolls get higher road users still have to endure
\npoor service daily. Complaints about congestion on toll roads
\ncontinue, and the toll road management company, PT Jasa Marga,
\nseems unable or incapable of doing anything about it.<\/p>\n
Frankly, congestion on toll roads is caused mainly by the fact
\nthat most of the roads to and from the city turnpikes are
\nconstantly congested. This situation contradicts the basic
\npurpose of toll roads, which are supposed to ease traffic flows
\nand boost economic growth. Despite the above, however, it is
\nimperative that PT Jasa Marga provide a better service for their
\ncustomers.<\/p>\n
While complaining about congestion on toll roads, drivers are
\nbecoming aware of the burden they are bearing for being on the
\nroads. The steady increase in fuel prices has forced them to
\ngrope deeper into their pockets, while constant traffic
\ncongestion has forced them to spend more time on the road, mostly
\nstationary.<\/p>\n
Studies show that billions of rupiah are lost every single day
\ndue to traffic congestion. Toll roads are no exception.<\/p>\n
The ailing city road network is simply groaning under the
\nweight of ever-increasing traffic. Motorists must brace
\nthemselves to confront ever more frenetic traffic whenever they
\nleave their houses to go to work every morning or go home in the
\nevening. There are very few roads that are not free from
\ncongestion. Traffic violations are rampant with traffic police
\ndoing nothing to punish unruly motorists. In fact, police are
\noften the culprits. There are many times when police cars can be
\nseen parked on road sides despite the existence of no-parking
\nsigns.<\/p>\n
Street crime is yet another matter that must be taken into
\naccount by motorists.<\/p>\n
The daily misery on the roads indicates that the capital, with
\n12 million people, 8,000 kilometers of roads, 4.5 million
\nmotorcycles and 2 million cars, has no clear concept of traffic
\ncontrol.
\n Undoubtedly, the high number of traffic accidents is unavoidable
\nin such circumstances.<\/p>\n
Many say that the culture of a people is reflected in their
\nbehavior on the road. In Indonesia, people have a lack of empathy
\nwith other road users. Unruly motorists jumping from lane to lane
\nand driving on the wrong side of the road have become
\ncommonplace. Ignoring traffic lights is now a national tradition.
\nBut all these inconsiderate actions violate other users' rights.<\/p>\n
Efforts made by the administration to cope with the traffic
\nenigma have yet to bear fruit. The 'three-in-one' policy, in
\nwhich every car must carry at least three people when passing
\ncertain roads during certain hours, has done very little to
\nrelieve traffic flows. The busway system with its TransJakarta
\nbuses has not yet induced people to leave their cars at home.
\nTransJakarta buses are in fact packed mostly with people who used
\nto use other forms of public transportation, rather than private
\ncar owners.<\/p>\n
Most people are unhappy about the burdensome trips they have
\nto make every day due to the higher road tolls, more expensive
\nfuel and the sheer time wasted due to congestion. Nonetheless,
\nvehicle ownership increases from year to year. Car exhibitions
\nalways attract thousands of people wanting to buy brand new cars
\nand motorcycles.<\/p>\n
Recent reports say that the number of cars grows by seven
\npercent per year and motorcycles by 15 percent annually, and this
\nhas contributed to the worsening traffic situation in the
\ncapital. Is there something wrong with people? Perhaps, but in
\nthe absence of decent, comfortable and safe public
\ntransportation, private transportation becomes the only logical
\nalternative.<\/p>\n
It is indeed time for citizens to put political pressure on
\nthe administration to realize the establishment of a mass rapid
\ntransit (MRT) system. Delaying the establishment of MRT means
\nkeeping the city, its economy and its population in a state of
\nperpetual gridlock.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/burden-of-commuting-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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