Burden of commuting

According to Law No. 38/2004 on roads, evaluation and adjustment of road tolls is made once every two years based on the rate of inflation. This means that the increase in road tolls is legal as the words 'evaluation' and 'adjustment' in paragraph three of the law is meant to accommodate such increases.

Even as the tolls get higher road users still have to endure poor service daily. Complaints about congestion on toll roads continue, and the toll road management company, PT Jasa Marga, seems unable or incapable of doing anything about it.

Frankly, congestion on toll roads is caused mainly by the fact that most of the roads to and from the city turnpikes are constantly congested. This situation contradicts the basic purpose of toll roads, which are supposed to ease traffic flows and boost economic growth. Despite the above, however, it is imperative that PT Jasa Marga provide a better service for their customers.

While complaining about congestion on toll roads, drivers are becoming aware of the burden they are bearing for being on the roads. The steady increase in fuel prices has forced them to grope deeper into their pockets, while constant traffic congestion has forced them to spend more time on the road, mostly stationary.

Studies show that billions of rupiah are lost every single day due to traffic congestion. Toll roads are no exception.

The ailing city road network is simply groaning under the weight of ever-increasing traffic. Motorists must brace themselves to confront ever more frenetic traffic whenever they leave their houses to go to work every morning or go home in the evening. There are very few roads that are not free from congestion. Traffic violations are rampant with traffic police doing nothing to punish unruly motorists. In fact, police are often the culprits. There are many times when police cars can be seen parked on road sides despite the existence of no-parking signs.

Street crime is yet another matter that must be taken into account by motorists.

The daily misery on the roads indicates that the capital, with 12 million people, 8,000 kilometers of roads, 4.5 million motorcycles and 2 million cars, has no clear concept of traffic control. Undoubtedly, the high number of traffic accidents is unavoidable in such circumstances.

Many say that the culture of a people is reflected in their behavior on the road. In Indonesia, people have a lack of empathy with other road users. Unruly motorists jumping from lane to lane and driving on the wrong side of the road have become commonplace. Ignoring traffic lights is now a national tradition. But all these inconsiderate actions violate other users' rights.

Efforts made by the administration to cope with the traffic enigma have yet to bear fruit. The 'three-in-one' policy, in which every car must carry at least three people when passing certain roads during certain hours, has done very little to relieve traffic flows. The busway system with its TransJakarta buses has not yet induced people to leave their cars at home. TransJakarta buses are in fact packed mostly with people who used to use other forms of public transportation, rather than private car owners.

Most people are unhappy about the burdensome trips they have to make every day due to the higher road tolls, more expensive fuel and the sheer time wasted due to congestion. Nonetheless, vehicle ownership increases from year to year. Car exhibitions always attract thousands of people wanting to buy brand new cars and motorcycles.

Recent reports say that the number of cars grows by seven percent per year and motorcycles by 15 percent annually, and this has contributed to the worsening traffic situation in the capital. Is there something wrong with people? Perhaps, but in the absence of decent, comfortable and safe public transportation, private transportation becomes the only logical alternative.

It is indeed time for citizens to put political pressure on the administration to realize the establishment of a mass rapid transit (MRT) system. Delaying the establishment of MRT means keeping the city, its economy and its population in a state of perpetual gridlock.