Busway a no-go for private motorists<\/p>\n
Leony Aurora, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Six months since its launch on Jan. 15, it seems the
\ncontroversial busway's only success is in providing a faster
\nmeans of travel as it speeds along its exclusive lane from Blok
\nM, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"(The busway) is fast. That's its only advantage," said Indra,
\n33, a regular busway passenger. "It's not comfortable. Passengers
\nare simply pushed in without considering how crowded the bus is,"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday morning as he alit from a
\nbus.<\/p>\n
The busway is packed during the morning and afternoon rush
\nhours -- 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. -- as it delivers thousands to their
\noffices along main thoroughfares Sudirman and Thamrin. It is also
\ncrowded at lunchtime, between 12 a.m. and 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
Irwan Iskandar, who lives in Kemang, South Jakarta, preferred
\nto take his own car to the office, which is located in the
\nSudirman Central Business District.<\/p>\n
"I've tried the busway, and it's actually OK. I'm willing to
\nchange to the busway if there was a 'friendly' bus from Kemang to
\nBlok M," he said. "It doesn't have to be an air-conditioned one,
\nas long as it is not overloaded."<\/p>\n
In a bid to reduce the number of buses and private cars on the
\ncapital's busy thoroughfares, the Jakarta administration invested
\nRp 120 billion (US$13.57 million) last year to build the busway
\nand requested an additional Rp 120 billion this year to finish
\nconstruction.<\/p>\n
The administration had also extended the three-in-one traffic
\npolicy to support the system, but the busway has not attracted
\nprivate car owners to switch their mode of commute.<\/p>\n
Transportation experts have repeatedly pointed to the lack of
\nfeeder buses and safe public parking structures as the main
\nreasons the busway has not had the expected draw.<\/p>\n
Michael Tribiantara, 27, who lives in Kebon Jeruk, West
\nJakarta, commented: "It's not like I can park my car at the
\nSemanggi cloverleaf and continue on the busway, right? I'd rather
\ntake backstreets than use the busway."<\/p>\n
He added the busway could be more successful if it passed by
\nhousing areas. "Otherwise, it's inefficient."<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Public Works Agency said previously it would begin
\nconstructing the second busway corridor after the July 5
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
The corridor, which is to run east-west from Pulogadung to
\nKalideres via Monas, is expected to be completed this year and
\noperational in 2005. Ultimately, Jakarta is to have 14 busway
\ncorridors.<\/p>\n
As of Monday, the ramps leading to the busway shelter at the
\nSenayan traffic circle and the bridge to Sawah Besar shelter
\nremained uncovered. Meanwhile, an unfinished elevator was visible
\nat the Sarinah shelter, but no signs of construction were evident
\nat the Senayan shelter, which has been designed with an elevator.<\/p>\n
The Post also observed that buses were rarely manned by
\nguards, who are employed by the Public Order Office.
\nOccasionally, a guard boarded -- only to alight a couple of stops
\nlater.<\/p>\n
"The busway management doesn't want us there," said a guard,
\nwho preferred to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
"There were some problems with drivers. They will not listen
\nto us when we tell them not to drive so fast," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the city has also broken ground on its monorail
\nproject, and it is feared these multiple constructions throughout
\nthe capital will add to traffic problems long before they offer
\nsolutions, if any.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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