City transportation system need compete overhaul<\/p>\n
D. A. Simarmata, School of Economics, University of Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta is known for its chronic traffic congestion. Even
\nthough it is still less severe than Bangkok, it is much worse
\nthan our city state neighbor, Singapore. Considering the low
\nlevel of motorization, the congestion level and its wide
\ndispersion throughout the city is comparatively very high. One of
\nthe sources of traffic congestion is the malfunction of the
\npublic transportation system. Some years ago there was a plan for
\nthe construction of a mass rapid transit (MRT) in the form of
\nsubways, but the cost was beyond reach, leading to its
\npostponement.<\/p>\n
The demand for urban public transportation has since only
\nincreased, urging the people and institutions responsible to seek
\na solution or an alternative. The probable one in sight is the
\nadoption of a bus-way or bus based system, or the eventual
\nupgrading to a light rapid transit system (LRT).<\/p>\n
The present transportation system in Jakarta consists of the
\nrail and bus system. The bus system is in a chaotic state,
\nwithout any inherent regularity of operation. The problem is
\nfurther exacerbated by the presence of angkot (public minivans),
\nwhich leads to an inefficient system.<\/p>\n
Public transportation in the city is not part of an integrated
\nsystem, as characteristic of cities in industrialized countries.
\nThe most visible characteristic of its disintegration is in the
\nterminal system, and at the points of passenger transfer from one
\nbus line to another.<\/p>\n
Further, there is no fixed and reliable schedule within the
\nbus system, let alone a coordinated schedule within and between
\nthe bus system and the rail system. The rail system is limited in
\nspatial coverage, in a simple straight line service, not in a
\nform of a branching network or a grid. And last but not least,
\nthe main deficiency in the public transportation system in
\nJakarta is in its pricing system.<\/p>\n
Much waste in congested streets, psychological stress, and air
\npollution could be substantially reduced by the wide use of the
\npublic transportation. Hence, passengers would be relieved of
\ninconvenience and the costly transfer from one bus to another
\nduring short distance travels. This would be achieved by the
\nimplementation of a valid bus or a train ticket for a period of
\ntime, namely for an hour or more. The successful application of
\nthe system would need, however, an integration of the whole urban
\ntransport system.<\/p>\n
The present system in Jakarta is inappropriate for that
\npurpose, primarily due to the absence of the ticket system. The
\nticket system is certainly difficult if not impossible to be
\nemployed using the minivan system. The minivan system operates in
\ncompetition and is not complementary with the larger bus system.
\nThis has been one of the sources of the chaotic state of our
\npublic transportation.<\/p>\n
The wage system of the public transportation drivers is
\ngenerally not based on a fixed monthly salary but on a kind of a
\npiece-rate system, except for the state-run city busy company
\n(PPD). The minivan system is mostly owner-operated, and not
\nmanaged by a company, adding to the complication of the wage
\nsystem in public transportation. Except for the owner-operated
\nbuses and the PPD, the driver has to submit an agreed sum of
\nmoney per day, known as setoran. to the bus company. Anything
\nearned over and above that amount is for the bus driver and for
\nother operational expenses.<\/p>\n
The bus drivers have firstly to pay the daily fee to the bus
\ncompany, then find additional money for themselves and for
\noperational expenses, including bribes for traffic police, and
\nother illegal and unofficial levies paid to street gangs. To
\nreach their target income, they often violate traffic regulations
\nif by doing so they could get more passengers. Therefore, one of
\nthe reasons for traffic violations by the public transportation
\ndrivers lies in the wage system, which needs review.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration's plan to implement a bus-way
\ntransportation system should be preceded by an overall review or
\nevaluation of the whole transport system, to look into its
\noperational integration, both in schedule and pricing and the
\nefficiency of the whole bus system.<\/p>\n
The efficiency of the bus transportation system has to be
\nimproved, and the government has to prepare an alternative plan
\nfor the excessive number of small owner-operated buses, by
\nfinding them work in a similar or substitute occupation.<\/p>\n
The present provision of a public transport system with a
\nvariety of services has to be maintained and further extended in
\nspatial coverage. Such a move would encourage the traveler to
\nswitch from private cars to public transportation. But the
\nofficials must be aware that the safety and convenience of travel
\nhas to be guaranteed, which is the responsibility of the police
\nand the Jakarta administration.<\/p>\n
In several cities in Europe public transportation is
\nconsidered a basic human right, because of the absolute necessity
\nto go to work by motorized vehicles.<\/p>\n
Therefore public transportation is regarded as a public
\nservice. Urban public transportation is heavily subsidized, lying
\nin the range of 60 percent to 70 percent of the total operational
\ncosts. This is also true for the United States, a guardian of the
\nfree market economy.<\/p>\n
Thus, there should be a total rethinking of the public
\ntransportation philosophy of Jakarta, especially when the price
\nof gasoline is being gradually raised to the international level.
\nThe huge income of the Jakarta government should be sufficient
\nfor the implementation of a subsidized urban public
\ntransportation system in Jakarta and even for other
\nagglomerations of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
This is the right time for that overhaul.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-transportation-system-need-compete-overhaul-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }