City transportation is a basic human right<\/p>\n
Traffic and ground transportation have become major headaches for
\nresidents of Jakarta. The city administration has failed to deal
\nwith the chaotic traffic that clogs the capital's streets, and an
\nintegrated transportation system offering safe and fast mass
\nrapid transit remains but a dream. The Jakarta Post's Soeryo
\nWinoto discussed the issue with Jakarta-based urban
\ntransportation expert Djamester Simarmata.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you see the current traffic and
\nground transportation system in Jakarta?<\/p>\n
Answer: The system is chaotic from the point of view of both
\nstructure and infrastructure. For road users the transportation
\nsystem and traffic is like a jungle, where the bigger creatures
\n(buses, trucks) are the "winners" and there is nothing to stop
\nthem. The (traffic) regulations have been corrupted.<\/p>\n
The city administration never planned a proper road network
\nsystem based on a certain pattern. There is no continuing road
\nnetwork system in the city.<\/p>\n
The total road surface (in Jakarta) is just about 6 percent of
\nthe width of the city. The roads in Tokyo are 25 percent,
\nWashington 23 percent and Paris 20 percent of the width of the
\ncities.<\/p>\n
In all cities in the world public transportation is a public
\nservice, whose operation depends on a government subsidy. In some
\ncountries the subsidy reaches about 70 percent. In several cities
\nin France public transportation is considered part of human
\nrights. It is the citizens' right to get to their places of work
\nto make ends meet. We should adopt this paradigm.<\/p>\n
Q: There has been an uncontrollable increase in the number of
\nvehicles on the road. Is it possible to limit the ownership of
\ncars in Jakarta?<\/p>\n
A: Limitation based on the age of vehicles would be an unpopular
\npolicy. In some other countries in Europe older vehicles are
\nallowed to operate but they must be road worthy.<\/p>\n
And if the government wants to limit the ownership of vehicles
\nmy first question would be, has the government managed public
\ntransportation well? If public transportation is still inferior,
\nlimiting the ownership of cars would violate human rights.<\/p>\n
I have said that the government should first improve the
\npublic transportation system, which is a basic need of the
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
At the recent World Sustainable Development summit in
\nJohannesburg it was recommended that things relating to the basic
\nneeds of people, including public transportation, be given
\npriority. Ibu Megawati (Soekarnoputri) was also there, but
\nafterward she recommended the construction of new toll roads at
\nhome.<\/p>\n
Q: Do the law enforcers contribute to the chaotic traffic?<\/p>\n
A: One of the traffic problems is the law enforcers. Bribery is
\nrampant on the streets. The other factors are drivers (of private
\nand public transportation vehicles). City bus drivers routinely
\nviolate traffic regulations as a result of poor law enforcement.<\/p>\n
The daily rent agreement between the bus owners, including the
\nstate, and the drivers also contributes to the drivers ignoring
\npublic safety on the streets. It's time to review the daily rent
\ndeal. The deal only leads to what I call an "ultra-market
\nsystem", where everybody and everything is money oriented.<\/p>\n
Q: The need for an integrated transportation system, including a
\nmass rapid transit (MRT) system, was initially voiced in the
\n1980s but so far the government has yet to take concrete steps to
\nimplement the idea. Why?<\/p>\n
A: It's a question of the interests of the related ministries.
\nEach ministry has been competing to handle and control the
\nintegrated transportation system project.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s I wrote an article about the priority of an urban
\nroad network. I said that toll roads were the option taken after
\nwe could not construct new artery roads for some reason.<\/p>\n
Why don't we just widen the existing artery roads instead of
\nconstructing new toll roads? Toll roads are supposed to ease
\ntraffic congestion, but practically they cause congestion at
\nother spots. The construction of toll roads encourages people to
\nbuy cars.<\/p>\n
Q: Uncertain zoning plans and their poor implementation have been
\ncited as major contributors to the traffic chaos. How do you see
\nthis?<\/p>\n
A: There was no clear zoning plan from the beginning and the
\nimplementation (of the plan) has obviously contradicted what was
\non paper. There should have been detailed data on the ownership
\nof property, including trees. The data would enable the city
\nadministration to compensate the owners once it started a
\ndevelopment project that requires people's property.<\/p>\n
Those in charge of zoning lack discipline. There is no open
\nspace left for children to play in this metropolis. All vacant
\nspaces have been used for business purposes.<\/p>\n
Q: What kind of integrated transportation system does Jakarta
\nreally need at this time?<\/p>\n
A: The entire existing transportation system must be reviewed.
\nThere must be a transformation of mode of transportation;
\nsmaller, medium and bigger based on the areas where they operate.<\/p>\n
A connecting network among bus terminals is required to help
\npassengers get transportation to their final destination.<\/p>\n
Financially, a ticketing system is the best choice. Passengers
\nmust buy a one-way ticket, valid for one hour, to go from one
\nplace to another. The passengers must buy another ticket for
\nanother one-hour trip. Owners of public transportation must be
\ntreated as contractors hired by the city administration.<\/p>\n
Mass rapid transit (MRT) is part of an integrated system. It's
\ntime for the city administration to get an MRT system because the
\nexisting bus system can no longer transport sufficient numbers of
\npassengers.<\/p>\n
Q: It is obvious that the city administration has no clear plan
\nto handle traffic problems, so it can hardly be expected that it
\nwould have a plan for an integrated transportation system. Your
\ncomment?<\/p>\n
A: Jakarta needs a national concept for this issue. The central
\ngovernment's interference is required. There must be a
\nmultiministerial move to make the capital city's transportation
\nand traffic systems more humane and orderly.<\/p>\n
A total overhaul of the whole system is a must. Road users,
\nincluding drivers, must improve their discipline, the authorities
\nmust guarantee the safety of public transportation passengers and
\nthe owners of public bus companies must review their existing
\nmanagerial systems.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you think is the role of the railway service in an
\nintegrated transportation system?<\/p>\n
A: The service of electric commuter trains (plying the Jakarta-
\nBogor-Tangerang-Bekasi) routes must be improved. These trains,
\nwhich can take large numbers of passengers, are a cheap mode of
\ntransportation for the people. They are also pollution free. Air
\npollution in Jakarta is reaching alarming levels. And trains are
\na safe means of transportation. For the time being, the trains
\ncan serve as an MRT.<\/p>",
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