Trams please, not more buses!<\/p>\n
It was reassuring to read recently in the local media that the
\ncity administration is doing something to deal with Jakarta's
\nchronic transport problem, except it is totally misguided in its
\nchoice of transport.<\/p>\n
The Jl. Sudirman to Blok M traffic corridor is just crying out
\nfor a tram system, which could run along the ample space provided
\nin the berm of the road, with stations connected to existing
\nfootbridges so as not to interfere with the flow of private
\ntransport on either side.<\/p>\n
Based upon observations of people's road habits here, does the
\nCity Land Transportation Agency really think the planned busway,
\nwhich will take away a lane of traffic on each side of the road,
\nwill do anything to solve chronic congestion along these major
\nthoroughfares? One dinky bus route is really not likely to
\nassuage wealthy Jakartans' manic car-buying habits.<\/p>\n
It is a commendable and much needed effort to promote public
\ntransport here, but a fallacy to think people are really going to
\nbegin abiding by yet more traffic regulations, though giving the
\nfrustrated public greater opportunities to flout them should
\nprovide the traffic police with a regular income.<\/p>\n
Over recent weeks, I have noticed the air pollution has been
\nso bad that smog has obliterated many of the downtown vistas one
\ncan usually glimpse in the early morning. Does the city
\nadministration really think adding extra exhaust fumes is going
\nto help improve air pollution? Particularly when some of the
\nworst offenders at street-level are buses that have not had their
\nengines tuned properly.<\/p>\n
As many city councillors would have observed while on their
\nextensive foreign field trips last year, trams are an ongoing
\nsuccess in places such as Hong Kong and the Netherlands, where
\nthey provide cheap, reliable and non-polluting urban public
\ntransport for the long term.<\/p>\n
ADRIAN SMITH<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trams-please-not-more-buses-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }