'Taxi fare hike no problem if service is good'<\/p>\n
The Jakarta administration raised the taxi fare ceiling by 36
\npercent, effective as of April 1. Many Jakartans depend on taxis
\nto get around because of the unreliability of most other forms of
\npublic transportation. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their
\nopinion on the issue.<\/p>\n
Ipung, 35, is a public relations consultant in Kemang, South
\nJakarta. He lives with his family in Cipete, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Almost every day I take a taxi to the office. I have no other
\nchoice but use taxis because I don't want to get sweaty and
\njostled around in a packed bus. Not to mention that you have to
\ndeal with the ubiquitous pickpockets.<\/p>\n
Of course, the recent fuel price hike has forced me to dig
\ndeeper into my pocket. I have to pay up to 30 percent more now
\nfor my taxis.<\/p>\n
Personally, I have no problem with the fare increase as long
\nas the service is good.<\/p>\n
But what concerns me is that the administration never consults
\nthe public before raising fares. And, in many cases, such one-
\nsided policies favor business at the expense of the public's
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
Dhani, 30, is a lecturer at the nursing academy at St. Carolus
\nHospital. She lives with her husband in Salemba, Central Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I take a taxi when I have to go to the airport on business. I
\nalways use a taxi company that I know has relatively disciplined
\ndrivers.<\/p>\n
For me, the taxi fare increase is not in line with promised
\nimprovements in the service to passengers.<\/p>\n
Passengers have to pay higher fares but still have to deal
\nwith undisciplined drivers who unscrupulously take advantage of
\nthe passengers' ignorance.<\/p>\n
For instance, I often find drivers who pretend to forget to
\nturn on the meter and then later demand a higher fare. Or
\nsometimes they took the long way to a destination to get more
\nmoney from people who are unfamiliar with the city.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taxi-fare-hike-no-problem-if-service-is-good-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }