Expert supports bus fare increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An expert on transportation engineering says he
\nsupports bus owners' demand to increase fares immediately, but
\nhas suggested the government share the burden through a subsidy.<\/p>\n
Alan Marino from the University of Indonesia (UI) said on
\nSunday that it would be unfair to put the burden of fare
\nincreases solely on passengers because they would not receive
\nbetter services for the extra amount they paid.<\/p>\n
\"The fare increase is needed merely to keep the transportation
\nbusiness keep running.<\/p>\n
\"It would be unfair for passengers to bear the full fare
\nincrease, while they will not enjoy improved bus services,\" he
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"In this case, there is no other way but for the government to
\nintervene in the matter by providing a subsidy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alan, a lecturer in UI's civil engineering department, said
\nthe present fare of Rp 300 for regular buses, Rp 500 for
\nminibuses and the Rp 100 student fare were no longer reasonable
\ncompared to the increasing operational expenditure of bus
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
He said that under such a condition, it would be impossible to
\nexpect better public bus services.<\/p>\n
\"That's why I support the bus owners' demand for fare
\nincreases,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alan said there should be research done on people's purchasing
\npower prior to a making decision on fare increases.<\/p>\n
\"In this matter, the ratio between the people's expenses on
\ntransportation and their income should be calculated and taken
\ninto consideration to decide on new fares,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation
\nOwners (Organda) has repeatedly demanded that bus fares be
\nincreased, saying bus owners could no longer cover their
\noperational costs with their income from the current bus fares.<\/p>\n
The owners have announced they will go on strike on Monday to
\npress for fare increases.<\/p>\n
The organization has proposed that the fare for regular buses
\nbe increased to Rp 1,000 from Rp 300, minibuses to Rp 1,200 from
\nRp 500, limited passenger Patas buses to Rp 1,550 from Rp 700 and
\nPatas AC buses to Rp 3,250 from Rp 2,300.<\/p>\n
While student fares were proposed to increase from Rp 100 to
\nRp 500.<\/p>\n
Organda executives have repeatedly promised that they would
\neventually improve services if fares were increased.<\/p>\n
However, Alan said he did not believe Organda could fulfill
\nits promise.<\/p>\n
He said low fares were not the only factor affecting services,
\nsaying poor infrastructure and the existing transportation system
\nalso contributed to the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Under such conditions, service improvement would cost a lot,
\nwhile fare increases cannot cover the cost for such improvement,\"
\nhe said. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-supports-bus-fare-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
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