'Bemo' may vanish from Bogor

'Bemo' may vanish from Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Mayor Eddy Gunardi claimed yesterday that 40
drivers of bemo (three-wheeled vehicle) have demanded the
municipal administration replace their bemo with small buses.

The mayor said the drivers were bored with their bemo and want
the administration to give them new vehicles.

"The replacement is possible, but all drivers should agree so
as to prevent protest," Eddy said.

He said the bemo could then be used to transport garbage in
the districts.

There are about 100 bemo plying six routes, mostly on Bogor's
outskirts.

A bemo driver, Nurdin Hermansyah, said he did not know what
the mayor was talking about, "as far as I know there's not a
single bemo driver asking for the replacement," he said.

"We still like bemo, they are easy to maintain, the spare
parts are cheap, and we make good money," said Nurdin. Two other
bemo drivers at Pasir Kuda terminal agreed. Nurdin said he earned
between Rp 10,000 (US$4.10) and Rp 20,000 a day.

Jakarta's administration is working hard to phase out bemo but
the plan has attracted much criticism from drivers. (24/ste)