'Improve transportation to ease traffic jams'<\/p>\n
The city administration announced last week a new license plate-
\nbased restriction could be imposed on all roads in the city,
\nalong with a new busway system later this year. Many motorists
\nare opposed to this possibility. They told The Jakarta Post they
\nwould leave their cars at home only when public transportation
\nwas reliable, safe and comfortable.<\/p>\n
Virna, 24, is a marketing officer at a private company in
\nWarung Buncit, South Jakarta. She lives in Tomang, West Jakarta,
\nwith her family:<\/p>\n
I disagree with the idea because it would be difficult to
\nimplement in real life. I wonder why the proposed policy is being
\nrevealed now, when most city residents are having problems with
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
It sounds unusual and strange, I guess. I'm sure that it will
\nhave no significant effect on transportation problems.<\/p>\n
The three-in-one restricted zones do not work well, so forget
\nabout this new proposed policy. It will only drive people to find
\nways to get around the rules.<\/p>\n
What if a family has two cars with odd license plate numbers
\nand neither of them can be used for a couple of days? Should we
\ngo by taxi or public transportation? Why do we have cars? It's a
\nweird policy.<\/p>\n
If the idea is to reduce the number of private vehicles on the
\nroad, the government should improve public transportation. Then
\ntaxes, parking fees and the price of private vehicles must be
\nincreased in order to discourage the ownership of a private car.<\/p>\n
Nuning H.S., 54, owns an outsourcing company in Radio Dalam,
\nSouth Jakarta. The mother of two lives nearby:<\/p>\n
I disagree with the license plate-based restriction, despite
\nthe fact that I could deal with the policy. I have three cars and
\nit would be no problem to use them alternatively based on the
\nregulation.<\/p>\n
However, I am thinking about those who own just one car.<\/p>\n
And I do not think the policy would solve the traffic problems
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
The most important thing is that the government should improve
\npublic transportation so as to encourage people to leave their
\ncars at home. Or the government should ban the use of old cars
\nthat are no longer roadworthy.<\/p>\n
I wouldn't have a problem taking public transportation if it
\nwas reliable, safe and comfortable.<\/p>\n
And the busway is a dubious project and a waste of the city
\nbudget. It's a lucrative project for a certain group of people
\nthat won't benefit the general public.<\/p>\n
Cahyo, 32, is a marketing director at a private company in
\nSouth Jakarta. He lives with his wife and daughter in Pamulang,
\nTangerang:<\/p>\n
I think it's a completely crazy idea. I would be crazy to
\nagree with it. I would say that (Governor) Sutiyoso better be
\nready to be mobbed if he goes forward with the idea.<\/p>\n
He should realize that for many people in the lower and middle
\nclasses, the family car is the only reliable means of
\ntransportation.<\/p>\n
The rich would probably not be affected by the policy because
\nthey have more than one car. But for other people this would not
\nwork.<\/p>\n
If he (Sutiyoso) imposes this policy based on his comparative
\nstudies in Columbia and other Latin American countries, he should
\nconsider differences in geography, culture and the like. Maybe
\nthe system works there, but here it would be prone to
\nirregularities such as license plate counterfeiting.<\/p>\n
Besides, I don't think the police would carefully check all
\nthe passing vehicles to make sure they have the right license
\nplate. It would be impossible.<\/p>\n
I believe this policy to reduce the number of private vehicles
\non the road, like the busway project, will fail. I'm sure the
\nlucrative busway project will only benefit him (Sutiyoso) and his
\nsubordinates.<\/p>\n
--Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/improve-transportation-to-ease-traffic-jams-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }