Bajaj, bemo to be phased out

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will slowly phase out all three-wheel public vehicles in Jakarta because they are no longer classified as viable means for city transportation.

Head of the City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency JP Sepang told reporters at City Hall yesterday that the bajaj and bemo are not appropriate for transporting passengers around the city.

"The three types of public transportation vehicles are not included on the city's public transportation list," Sepang said.

He added that their elimination will be carried out gradually and the first victim will be the bemo. At present a total of 1,096 bemo are registered by the office.

"The city administration plans to replace those vehicles with four wheelers, such as minivans," Sepang said without going into detail.

Sepang also said that the problem caused by these nuisances is complicated and not easy to solve. He said that after the bemo, the office will sweep every last bajaj off the streets.

An official of the Ministry of Transportation on Tuesday urged the city administration to do away with ojek, motorcycle taxis, saying that it is illegal and does not comply with Traffic Law No. 14/1992.

The city government banned the operation of the becak in residential areas a few years ago on the grounds that the three- wheel pedicabs are not humane.

Tadjus Sobirin, the head of the Jakarta chapter of the Golkar ruling party, told reporters yesterday that it is not humane to eliminate the ojek because many people need them.

"I don't agree with plans to eliminate ojek from the city because this kind of transportation is very helpful for many people in residential areas," Tadjus said.

Sepang said that Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has agreed with the plan. (yns)