Taxi operators cancel fare increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In reaction to the declining number of
\npassengers following the adoption of new fares on Friday, several
\ntaxi operators decided on Sunday to return to the old fare.<\/p>\n
\"Last night our management took back the fare conversion
\ntables which were distributed on Friday,\" Kosti Jaya taxi driver
\nSudjana told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Several other operators, such as Express Taxi, Citra Taxi, and
\nPrestasi Taxi also decided not to apply the new fares.<\/p>\n
However, the Blue Bird group, the biggest operator in the
\ncapital, continued to apply the new fare.<\/p>\n
An employee at Express taxi, Endang Sunarya, said the company
\nexecutives told drivers not to apply the new fare because the
\nCity Council had yet to pass the regulation.<\/p>\n
Taxi drivers complained about the new policy saying that the
\nhike made passengers reluctant to travel by taxi.<\/p>\n
\"The number of customers has decreased because of this new
\nfare,\" Citra Taxi's Saman said.<\/p>\n
Saman's opinion was shared by other drivers.<\/p>\n
\"I prefer the old fare because today it was difficult to get
\npassengers, but it's the company's policy,\" a driver at Gamya
\nTaxi which is under the Blue Bird group, said.<\/p>\n
Kosti Jaya's Sudjana blamed the Organization of Land
\nTransportation Owners (Organda) for issuing a decree that created
\nuneasiness among the public.<\/p>\n
\"This is all Organda's fault. You know what? I already own
\nthis car and I think the hike is too high,\" Sudjana said,
\nexplaining that Kosti Jaya drivers could own a taxi after paying
\nmonthly installments for about two and a half years.<\/p>\n
Separately on Saturday, Organda defended increasing the taxi
\nfare, claiming it was important for the business to avoid
\nbankruptcy and to save other related lines of work.<\/p>\n
\"We call on all parties to rationally and realistically asses
\nthe problem of taxi fares. Taxi business does not only support
\nour drivers and their families, but also other members of the
\ncommunity,\" head of Organda's taxi unit Izak A. Rumaedi said in a
\nwritten statement.<\/p>\n
\"Our business supports other businesses, such as spare part
\nshops, and food stalls operating near our taxi pools. It's also
\nimportant to keep these businesses alive by ensuring taxi
\noperators live,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The organization has been under harsh criticism recently for
\nits unilateral decision to increase taxi fares without official
\nconsent from city administration.<\/p>\n
\"The administration cannot regulate our fares because we
\naren't of economy-class base, which is regulated by the
\ngovernment,\" said Izak.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, other modes of transportation have also hiked their
\nfares. So, it's unfair if we cannot hike taxi fares,\" he said,
\nciting recent transportation fare increases announced by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Izak was suspicious that opposition to the fare increase was
\npart of systematic efforts to destroy the taxi business.<\/p>\n
\"Most of our taxis are over five years old with maintenance
\ncosts exceeding income,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Hiking the fare was the only solution to increase our service
\nto the customers. There is no other way,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He also denied that Organda had not publicized the fare
\nincrease to the public.<\/p>\n
\"We made it public in May when we requested permission to hike
\nthe fare,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, Governor Sutiyoso ordered head of City
\nTraffic and Land Transportation Agency, Buyung Atang, to take
\naction against any taxi charging higher fares.<\/p>\n
\"My approval wasn't to implement the new fare but rather to
\ncirculate the new fare,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Through Gubernatorial Decree No. 2503 dated Aug. 22, the
\nadministration agreed to raise the flag fall from Rp 2,000 (25 US
\ncents) to Rp 3,000 and the meter charge from Rp 900 to Rp 1,300
\nper kilometer. The waiting fee was hiked from Rp 10,000 to Rp
\n13,000 per hour. (jaw\/nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taxi-operators-cancel-fare-increase-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}