Cloud hangs over the future of 'Bajaj' in Jakarta<\/p>\n
By John Aglionby<\/p>\n
LOVE them or loathe them, you can't ignore Jakarta's bajaj.<\/p>\n
They are viewed as either cost-efficient \"taxis\", that are
\ninvaluable to tens of thousands of Jakarta residents, or, as
\nstreet-clogging, pollution-belching monstrosities that should be
\nconsigned to the scrap heap.<\/p>\n
Such is the debate over the bajaj, the three-wheeled motorized
\nvehicles that grumble rather than purr around the capital's
\nstreets, transporting people who do not want to take a bus or
\ntaxi.<\/p>\n
Powered by a 150cc engine, the bajaj first appeared in Jakarta
\nin 1977. There are now more than 14,000 serving all five city
\nmayoralties. Two people can fit in the back comfortably, but it
\nis common to see many more packed like sardines into the small
\nrear cabin.<\/p>\n
Regulations state that they have to be a gaudy shade of
\norange, although it is not uncommon to see a rogue green or
\nyellow bajaj meandering through the suburbs.<\/p>\n
The pollution bajaj emit from their exhausts is one of the
\nmain complaints against them. It is caused by a concoction of
\ngasoline and oil that powers them. But Sumar, who has been a
\nbajaj driver for 15 years, says the pollution needn't be as bad
\nas it often is.<\/p>\n
\"If you mix the oil and gasoline in the right proportions
\n(1:9), the emissions should be no worse than those from a car,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"And they are not nearly as bad as what comes out of metro
\nmini buses.\"<\/p>\n
According to Sumar, their greatest advantage is their
\nmaneuverability.<\/p>\n
\"They can turn almost on the spot and can get up and down
\nalleys that no other vehicles can even think about entering,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Their presence, however, is technically in breach of a 1985
\nprovincial decree on city planning, which stipulates that public
\ntransport vehicles must have at least four wheels.<\/p>\n
And, so, their days of weaving in and out of traffic and
\ngiving drivers of smart cars heart attacks are numbered, although
\nno one knows exactly when they will follow their pedal-powered
\nrelatives and be banished beyond the city's boundary.<\/p>\n
Haja Suarni is one of those people whose livelihood may be
\nthreatened by the decision. She owns 20 bajaj and runs them from
\na garage on Jl. Paku Buwono 6, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I bought my first bajaj 15 years ago,\" she said. \"In those
\ndays, one vehicle cost less than Rp 5 million (US$2,050 at
\ntoday's exchange rate).<\/p>\n
A new one today would cost me at least Rp 12 million.\"<\/p>\n
Suarni says each of her bajaj is given a thorough service
\nevery couple of months.<\/p>\n
\"Provided you look after them properly, there's no reason why
\nthey shouldn't last just as long as a car.\"<\/p>\n
She also insists on her vehicles being properly lit and
\nmaintained by the drivers. \"You can't expect bajaj to survive if
\nthey are not lit at night.\"<\/p>\n
Last year, Suarni and her drivers protested at Jakarta
\nGovernor Surjadi Soedirdja's office and believe the bajaj have
\nwon a reprieve. \"He told us they would only be phased out when a
\nreplacement had been found and also not before the bemo were
\ntaken off the streets.<\/p>\n
\"Although the authorities have been talking about getting rid
\nof the bemo for ages they are still around, so, I am confident I
\nwill not be moving my bajaj for some time.\"<\/p>\n
Bemo are also three-wheeled public transport vehicles but can
\nseat six people in the back and one beside the driver.<\/p>\n
There is no definite news on what will replace the bajaj. One
\npossibility is the molek (an Indonesian acronym meaning
\nelectronic car), a larger, four-wheeled vehicle. It costs Rp 100
\nto travel a kilometer (a bajaj costs almost six times that
\nfigure) and can run for up to five hours before the 36-volt
\nbattery needs to be recharged.<\/p>\n
A molek was tested at City Hall in March of this year.
\nSurjadi's response was positive but he said his administration
\nwould not be pushed into committing itself to buying them in
\nbulk.<\/p>\n
With such an unhurried attitude from the decisionmakers, it is
\nhighly likely that Suarni's confidence is justified and her 20
\ndrivers will be chuggin' around the streets for some time to
\ncome.<\/p>",
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