YLKI slams express bus fare increase<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI)
\nyesterday blasted the Land Transport Owners Organization
\n(Organda) for increasing the fare of air-conditioned express
\nbuses from Rp 1,300 to Rp 1,800 (78 US cents).<\/p>\n
YLKI chairperson Tini Hadad asked the organization to review
\nits decision and set the fare lower than Rp 1,800.<\/p>\n
\"The organization should not feel it will `lose face' by doing
\nthat,\" Tini said yesterday.<\/p>\n
She said it is not relevant to link the bus fare increase to
\nthe improvement of the bus service as promised by chairman of
\nOrganda's Jakarta branch, Aip Sjarifuddin. \"It is the duty of the
\nbus companies to serve the people. Better service does not relate
\nto the fare increase,\" she said.<\/p>\n
According to Tini, the bus companies had made profits with the
\nold Rp 1,300 fare. \"The increase in the number of air-conditioned
\nexpress buses was proof that the bus companies gained financial
\nprofits from the old fare,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"If Organda wanted to increase the bus fare, a 20-percent hike
\nwould be reasonable,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Organda began applying the new rate on Saturday. The City
\nCouncil had earlier criticized Organda and the city
\nadministration for not making a public announcement prior to the
\nnew fare's application date. The organization claimed to have the
\ncity administration's approval for the increase.<\/p>\n
Sahala Sinaga, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty faction of the City Council, said that the increase was
\narbitrarily applied. It was regrettable that the city
\nadministration had failed to officially inform the Council about
\nthe increase.<\/p>\n
Sahala called for the cancellation of the new fare as soon as
\npossible and urged the city administration to repeat the whole
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, a passenger of a Steady Safe express bus plying
\nthe Lebak Bulus-Senen route got off the bus in protest of the new
\nfare.<\/p>\n
\"Could you show me the gubernatorial decree on the fare
\nincrease?\" the passenger asked. The bus conductor replied `no'.
\nThe man then asked the driver to stop and disembarked early
\ninstead of paying Rp 1,800.<\/p>\n
In response to both the councilor's and the public's protests,
\nGovernor Surjadi Soedirdja promised on Tuesday to reevaluate the
\nnew fare's implementation.<\/p>\n
He said reevaluation was necessary to avoid any public unrest.<\/p>\n
YLKI Chairperson Tini Hadad yesterday called for proper
\nhandling of any complaints addressed to Organda. The organization
\nhas a phone number -- 739-8080 --- available to those who are
\npoorly treated by air-conditioned express bus crews.<\/p>\n
\"Organda must guarantee that the number working. The
\norganization should also remember that our society has yet to
\nbecome telephone-minded,\" Tini said.<\/p>\n
Tini also criticized the bus companies for not adding to the
\nnumber of its air-conditioned express fleets and allowing
\npassengers to jostle each other in the bus.<\/p>\n
According to a gubernatorial decree revised this year, an
\nexpress bus is allowed to have only 10 standing people on board.
\nIn practice, the bus crew always lets on as many passengers as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
\"Passengers improperly treated by bus companies deserve fare
\nreductions as compensation. In this way, bus companies could
\nrespect the passengers' right to comfort,\" she added. (sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylki-slams-express-bus-fare-increase-1447893297",
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