3-in-1 spells losses, say Glodok traders

Representatives of traders in Glodok, West Jakarta, told Governor Sutiyoso on Thursday that the new three-in-one traffic policy had disrupted their businesses and demanded adjustments in its hours of enforcement.

Traders at Harco Glodok, HWI Lindeteves, Hayam Wuruk Indah and Glodok Plaza shopping centers proposed new hours for the policy: from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The current times enforced by the policy are from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"We completely support the city administration's traffic policy, but our income has declined since the enforcement of (the new) three-in-one policy in February, as customers prefer not to linger so as to avoid the three-in-one," textile trader Sebastian said.

He did not provide figures of the traders' income before and after the new policy was implemented.

The traders were invited by Sutiyoso to provide their input for the policy's evaluation.

"A full evaluation will be made six months after the three-in- one policy's date of implementation, and will involve a number of experts," Sutiyoso said.

During the meeting, the traders also complained about sidewalk vendors, illegal off-street parking and the fleet of public minivans waiting for passengers in the area, which had contributed to congested traffic.

"We also want the city administration to build a busway stop close to Glodok Market to facilitate customers' access," said a trader. -- JP