Public transit remains a major problem<\/p>\n
By Yoko N. Sari and Hyginus Hardoyo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta is facing increasingly complicated
\nheadaches in public transportation, with problems ranging from
\ndifficulties in improving the discipline of motorists, poor
\nmanagement of bus companies, old, and bad conditions of buses, to
\nthe debate on whether to choose an elevated railway or subway
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
When the city imposed its new ticketing fine scale on Sept. 1,
\nwhich was much higher than the previous one, hundreds of drivers
\nof the 30-seat Metromini buses staged city-wide strikes,
\nparalyzing traffic and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.<\/p>\n
The imposition of the new fine scale was aimed mainly at
\nimproving discipline among motorists, especially drivers of
\npublic transport vehicles.<\/p>\n
Most of the strikers pointed out that the new fine scale,
\nwhich was set at between Rp 15,000 (US$7) and Rp 50,000,
\ndepending on their offenses, was outside their ability to pay.
\nHow could they pay the fines if their earnings only reached
\nbetween Rp 15,000 and Rp 25,000 per day each, they asked.<\/p>\n
The strikers also caused other vehicles, including taxis and
\nother public buses, to halt. They were also seen forcing other
\nMetromini buses to stop, telling the passengers to get off.<\/p>\n
During the strike hundreds of uniformed police and military
\npersonnel were deployed to carry stranded passengers in police
\nvehicles as well as the metrominis which had been abandoned by
\ntheir drivers.<\/p>\n
The strikers said they would return to work only if the
\ngovernment lifted the hefty traffic fines.<\/p>\n
However, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said
\nthe government was consistent in enforcing the law, adding that
\nminibus drivers should recognize that the frequent, tragic
\naccidents caused by their reckless driving had left them with a
\nless than sterling reputation.<\/p>\n
"National discipline is judged by traffic orderliness. If our
\ntraffic is orderly, people will say we have good, national
\ndiscipline," commander of the Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The city's public transport returned to normal after most
\nminibus drivers ended their three-day strike and went back to
\nwork.<\/p>\n
Due to the numerous old buses still operating in the city, the
\nmunicipal administration has ordered owners of buses and other
\npublic transit vehicles to bring their fleets up to standard, to
\nimprove service and facilitate traffic flow.<\/p>\n
JP Sepang, chairman of the Land Transportation Agency, said
\nthat bringing fleets up to standard is necessary to improve the
\nimage of Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We have ordered all bus owners as well as other public
\ntransit vehicles to pay more attention to the condition of their
\nfleets, including their cleanliness," he said.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, deputy head of the city police, said
\nthe public transit vehicles, totaling approximately 9,000 buses,
\n18,000 taxis and 6,000 minivans, transport at least 4.5 million
\ncommuters daily.<\/p>\n
Widodo underlined the importance of improving the management
\nof public vehicle companies to enable them to provide better
\nservices.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern over the poor management quality of
\npublic transit companies which are established on a limited
\nliability basis and do not have their own fleets. Most of these
\nfirms simply organize bus owners under a loose, umbrella-type
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
Under such a structure, the companies do not have any
\nrelationship with drivers who are hired by vehicle owners and
\nobliged to pay a daily rental fee, he said.<\/p>\n
He said traffic problems in the capital have become
\nincreasingly complicated because the increase in the number of
\nvehicles is not in line with the growth of the population.<\/p>\n
"Discipline on the part of drivers is also still low. Most of
\nthem speed recklessly and ignore existing regulations," he added.<\/p>\n
According to data from the city's Land Transportation Agency,
\nmost traffic violations were made by drivers of public transit
\nvehicles.<\/p>\n
Most violations involved cutting short their routes to avoid
\nentering terminals. Bus drivers are often reluctant to use the
\nterminals because they are forced to wait in long lines to pick
\nup passengers.<\/p>\n
Other violations include exceeding load capacity limits,
\nexceeding speed limits, deviating from designated routes and
\nexceeding the deadline for vehicle roadworthy examinations.<\/p>\n
The most shocking accident happened in March when a Metromini
\nbus, packed with 45 commuters--far above the legal capacity of
\n30--plunged into a polluted river in Sunter, North Jakarta,
\nleaving 33 people dead.<\/p>\n
The Metromini bus, serving the route between Senen and Semper,
\nwas allegedly racing with other buses on Jl. Yos Sudarso towards
\nthe Senen bus terminal.<\/p>\n
The driver, who fled the scene immediately, had lost control
\nof his bus. He was believed to have escaped unhurt as he managed
\nto jump out of the bus as it plunged into the river.<\/p>\n
"Most of the victims drowned because the bottom of the river
\nis covered in thick mud," the then spokesman for the City Police
\nLatief Rabar said. Apparently the mud hampered rescue efforts
\nbecause it complicated the extraction of the bus from the river.<\/p>\n
In a bid to help ease the complicated problems of public
\ntransportation, the city administration, in cooperation with
\nrelated institutions, is studying the possibility of building a
\nmass rapid transit (MRT) system.<\/p>\n
However, it seems there is still a debate over its technology:
\nWhether to use an underground or elevated system.<\/p>\n
Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. The
\nunderground system would not ruin the city scenery but is very
\nexpensive, while the elevated one is cheaper but worsens the
\nview.<\/p>\n
Haryanto said that a team has been set up to prepare proposals
\nfor the construction of the MRT system. The proposals are
\nexpected to be completed soon.<\/p>\n
The team, led by Secretary General of the Ministry of
\nTransportation Muchtarudin Siregar, comprises of officials from
\nthe transportation ministry, Jakarta administration, the Ministry
\nof Public Works, the National Development Planning Agency and the
\nAgency for Assessment and Application of Technology.<\/p>\n
Haryanto said several consortiums from France, Canada, Japan,
\nthe United States, Germany and Australia have expressed interest
\nin participating in the construction of the railway system.<\/p>",
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