Bajaj, bemo to be phased out

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)