`No trial-and-error traffic policy, please'<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Acute transportation problems in the city can only be resolved by
\nmeans of a well-planned, comprehensive transportation system,
\nimplemented consistently, say transportation observers.<\/p>\n
They also say that serious traffic congestion, particularly
\nduring peak hours in many parts of the city, are the result of
\ntrial-and-error policies frequently introduced by the city
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
"If the leaders at the city administration want to resolve the
\ntransportation problem comprehensively, they should no longer
\nadopt a trial-and-error approach," Tulus Abadi, from the
\nIndonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), told The Jakarta Post on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Tulus was asked to comment on the plan of the city
\nadministration to extend the restricted traffic zone, three-in-
\none policy, to the main corridor of the busway project, along
\nroads from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Tulus also queried why the city administration wished to
\nexpand the policy from its current 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to
\nanother period in the evening. The policy is, at present, far
\nfrom effective, as many motorists use the services of joki, or
\npeople who offer themselves as passengers for a small tip of
\nabout Rp 2,000.<\/p>\n
Transportation analyst from the University of Indonesia (UI)
\nAlan Marino questioned the readiness of the city administration
\nto provide adequate public transportation for those wishing to
\nleave their car at home, following implementation of the busway
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
The plan to extend the time for the three-in-one policy was
\nrevealed on Wednesday by assistant to the city secretary for
\ndevelopment affairs Irzal Djamal. A restriction would be imposed
\nby limiting cars according to their license plate numbers.<\/p>\n
It is one aspect of the proposed busway project, already
\ndelayed several times, and is expected to begin sometime this
\nyear, in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion on major roads
\nsuch as Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin.<\/p>\n
"If you were to ask me about the plan to extend the three-in-
\none rule, I would say that I would agree with it. However, is the
\nbusway project really ready to assume the function of cars that
\nwill be left at home?" Alan asked the Post.<\/p>\n
Both Alan and Tulus said that comprehensive studies should be
\ncarried out by the city administration before any transportation
\npolicy came into effect, as otherwise it would only add to
\ntraffic problems here.<\/p>\n
They expressed no objection to the busway system on condition
\nthat the project was adequately prepared, for, in many cities in
\nthe world, such a system was able to resolve traffic problems.<\/p>\n
But Tulus said he remained to be convinced about the
\nseriousness of the city administration, particularly the
\nofficials in charge of the project, who treated it as another
\ntrial-and-error attempt that was not properly prepared.<\/p>\n
Tulus suspected that many officials perceived the project as a
\nsource of additional income, instead of as a way of addressing
\nthe city's transportation problems.<\/p>\n
The city administration planned to operate 60 buses along a
\n12.5-kilometer special busway track, from Blok M to Kota, late
\nlast year, but the launch was delayed due to inadequate
\npreparation.<\/p>\n
Early this year, the tryout was implemented with two buses
\ntraveling along the lanes, without passengers. Currently, no
\ninformation is available about when the project will become fully
\noperational.<\/p>",
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