Commuters object to high busway fares<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Arsi, 22, took out Rp 1,200 (14 U.S. cents) from her pocket to
\npay the fare for a bus from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West
\nJakarta, not realizing that it was probably one of the last times
\nshe would to pay such a low fare.<\/p>\n
When the busway project kicks off on Jan. 15, commuters like
\nArsi will have to pay Rp 2,500 to ride one of the 56 air-
\nconditioned buses.<\/p>\n
\"I'm gonna have to pay Rp 2,500? That's crazy. I thought the
\ncity administration was just going to shift the path for the
\nbuses without increasing the price. It will raise my
\ntransportation expenses,\" she groaned.<\/p>\n
Arsi, who works as a waitress at a fast-food restaurant on Jl.
\nThamrin, lives in a rented house in Bendungan Hilir, Central
\nJakarta. It normally takes her 15 minutes to reach her workplace,
\nat a cost of about Rp 2,500 a day. When the busway opens, Arsi
\nwill have to pay double for transportation at Rp 5,000 a day.<\/p>\n
\"I don't need an air-conditioned bus. This bus, that I always
\ntake, is enough. I know I don't make much. That's why I'm fine
\nwith the regular buses,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration has argued that the busway, which
\noccupies a 12.9-kilometer corridor, would encourage people who
\nwork in buildings situated along the route to leave their private
\ncars at home and use the busway instead. The city has promised to
\nprovide feeder services to and from busway shelters and
\nresidential areas on the outskirts of the capital.<\/p>\n
Commuters will have to pay Rp 2,900 for city zones and Rp
\n3,800 for outer zones.<\/p>\n
\"It's a total waste of money. There are already (regular)
\nbuses from Blok M to Kota that only cost me Rp 1,200. Why would
\nanyone get on a bus on the same route at a higher fare?\" asked
\nYudi, a security guard at a hotel on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West
\nJakarta. He lives in Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, and usually
\ncatches a bus on Jl. Thamrin.<\/p>\n
Another commuter, Anastasia, was enraged and skeptical about
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
\"It is inefficient and a total waste of money. My bus
\nintersects the busway corridor in front of the State Palace. Do I
\nhave get off my bus and take the busway to get to my office and
\npay Rp 2,500 more? That's nonsense,\" said the 23-year-old woman.<\/p>\n
Anastasia lives in Bekasi and works at an insurance company in
\nHarmoni, West Jakarta, near the State Palace. She usually spends
\nRp 5,000 on transportation daily from her Rp 1.3 million monthly
\nsalary.<\/p>\n
\"If I have to take the busway, I'll have to spend at least Rp
\n10,000 per day. What about the buses that intersect the corridor?
\nPeople will have to change buses several times then. Those
\nofficials are really illogical.<\/p>\n
\"What if a bus stalls? Where will they tow it? Or what if
\npassengers lose their tickets? Has the administration thought
\nabout that?\" she grumbled.<\/p>\n
At least 149 buses currently serve the Blok M-Kota route. The
\nfour operators along the corridor will have their licenses for
\nthat route revoked to make way for the busway project.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the administration has only prepared 56 buses with
\na capacity of 20,000 passengers in the initial phase. The Blok M-
\nKota route normally serves 60,000 passengers. By mid-2004, the
\ncity plans to add 50 more buses, but until then, 40,000 daily
\ncommuters along the route will have to find alternative means of
\ntransportation so they can continue to make a living.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/commuters-object-to-high-busway-fares-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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