Bus commuters say crews' attitude needs overhaul

Bus commuters say crews' attitude needs overhaul

JAKARTA (JP): Commuters complained on Monday that bus terminal
operators in the capital should improve the attitude of errant
officials instead of spending heavily on renovations of their
facilities.

They were asked to comment on their main hopes for changes in
services at the inter-city bus terminals with the approach of
next month's peak season of the fasting month of Ramadhan,
Christmas, New Year's Eve and the post-fasting month celebration
of Idul Fitri in January.

They said the main problem faced by the seasonal travelers was
the deceitful behavior of the terminal officials and bus crews,
who always attempted to cheat passengers by hiking fares.

The city's Land Transportation Agency last week announced its
plan to spend some Rp 2 billion (US$281,700) for the renovation
of six bus terminals in anticipation of the peak season.

"Instead of renovating the facilities, changing the bad
attitude of the terminal officials and bus crews would be more
worthwhile," said passenger Dedi Sutarjo at Pulogadung Bus
Terminal in East Jakarta.

Dedi said dishonest officials have for years illegally hiked
ticket fares for their own benefit and forced people onto buses
when the vehicles were already overloaded.

Another passenger, Florentine, agreed with him, saying she had
yet to see a change in the behavior and attitude of officials and
bus crews.

"The administration should change their way of thinking, that
somehow renovating the terminals would solve the problems," she
said.

Earmarked for renovation are Senen Bus Terminal in Central
Jakarta; Rawamangun, Pulogadung and Kampung Rambutan in East
Jakarta; Kalideres in West Jakarta; and Tanjung Priok in North
Jakarta.

Renovation work was already under way on Monday in the
compound and ticket booths of the Senen and Pulogadung bus
terminals.

When asked to comment on the passengers' complaints, head of
the Pulogadung terminal, Bambang Permadi, said that passengers
were also partly responsible for the irregularities.

"Passengers are sometimes reluctant to obey the rules on
public order. For instance, they stop the buses outside the
terminal and refuse to follow the officials' instruction," he
said. (ind)