Life much harder now for 'bajaj' drivers<\/p>\n
After transporting Jakartans for nearly 30 years, the days of
\nbajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicles) are numbered. The city
\nadministration will phase out the Indian-made bajaj in favor of
\nlocally made kancil (four-wheeled motorized vehicles). The
\nJakarta Post's Urip Hudiono has observed the problems faced by
\nbajaj drivers. This is the second of six articles.<\/p>\n
Dozens of bajaj drivers were waiting for passengers in front of
\nMayestik market in South Jakarta. A woman, who was carrying
\ngroceries, approached one of them, asking him to take her to
\nnearby Kebayoran Lama.<\/p>\n
The two bargained, finally agreeing upon a fare of Rp 7,000
\n(78 U.S. cents), up from her offer of Rp 5,000 and lower than the
\ndriver's of Rp 10,000. As it departed for Kebayoran Lama, the
\norange bajaj spewed out thick black fumes.<\/p>\n
\"The fare was reasonable, although other passengers might
\ndrive a harder bargain,\" commented Dasuki, a driver. \"Even if we
\nget less than we ask for, it's better than losing passengers.\"<\/p>\n
Times are tough for bajaj drivers, who struggle every day to
\nget enough passengers. The increasing number of ojek (motorcycle
\ntaxi) drivers and the expanding area covered by public minivans
\nonly make things worse.<\/p>\n
Dasuki said bajaj drivers pay between Rp 25,000 and Rp 30,000
\nto rent a bajaj for half a day from the owner. Most drivers share
\none bajaj between two -- one driver works from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
\nthe other from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
\"I have to pay Rp 26,000 for half a day, excluding the cost of
\ngasoline and oil,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Beside that, bajaj drivers at Mayestik have agreed to pay a
\ndaily parking fee of Rp 1,000, double the official fee of Rp 500.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to give the parking attendant extra,\" Dasuki
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, Dasuki only manages to take home Rp
\n14,000, at the most. His daily income has decreased from two
\nyears ago, when it was around Rp 23,000.<\/p>\n
Dasuki, who has been a bajaj driver since 1986, said he could
\nmake extra money fixing bajaj when they broke down.<\/p>\n
The administration plans to gradually replace around 14,000
\nbajaj in the city with locally assembled kancil.<\/p>\n
Although some residents support the plan, arguing that kancil
\nare more environmentally friendly than bajaj -- which have been
\noperating in the city since 1975 -- many of them still rely upon
\nthe vehicle for short trips.<\/p>\n
\"Now, fewer passengers use bajaj from here (Mayestik) to as
\nfar as Ciputat or Ciledug, for example,\" said another driver
\nRamlan. \"Most of them use bajaj only for short trips, like from
\nhere to Kebayoran Lama.\"<\/p>\n
He pointed to ojek as the bajaj's main competitor.<\/p>\n
\"We don't mind competing against ojek, but many of the drivers
\nare employees seeking extra money in their spare time,\" he said.
\n\"We, on the other hand, drive bajaj as our only source of
\nincome.\"<\/p>\n
Ramlan suggested that the administration regulate ojek
\ndrivers, such as requiring that the motorcycles carry yellow
\npolice license plates, which would indicate that they were
\nofficial public transportation. Also their operational areas
\nshould be limited, to avoid overlapping with bajaj, he said.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said the replacement of bajaj with kancil must be done
\nin a fair way.<\/p>\n
\"One kancil for one bajaj. If the city operates kancil without
\nwithdrawing bajaj, then the competition will be fiercer for us.\"<\/p>\n
Responding to complaints that the bajaj have caused air and
\nnoise pollution in the city, Ramlan argued \"That's just
\ncomplaints from the rich.\"<\/p>\n
\"I've been driving bajaj for 15 years, still I have no health
\nproblems resulting from exhaust fumes.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/life-much-harder-now-for-bajaj-drivers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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