Bus drivers revved up over quiet Lebaran

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

An estimation that more than 2.5 million Jakarta workers would leave the city to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns this year was unrealistically high, intercity bus drivers say.

Instead of having to control thronging crowds of passengers, drivers at South Jakarta's largest transportation hub, the Lebak Bulus terminal, had plenty of time to sit and chat about their lost earnings on Friday.

"We have parked our buses for three days here. It's only been today that we've had the opportunity to carry passengers ... and the bus wasn't even full," Jamal, a driver of an air-conditioned Jakarta-Surakarta bus, told The Jakarta Post.

In previous years, people had to struggle to get a seat, he said.

"Now there are too many buses available because vehicles from Central and East Java provinces were sent here to anticipate the exodus. But the number of travelers is far smaller compared to last year's," Jamal said.

Tickets for buses serving Jakarta to cities in Central Java ranged between Rp 150,000 (US$15) and Rp 250,000, while those for trips to cities in Each Java ranged between Rp 200,000 and Rp 300,000.

The figure is some 30 percent to 40 percent higher than the last year's ticket prices due to the Oct. 1 fuel price hikes.

The drivers estimated the numbers of Lebaran travelers this year were around 50 percent lower than last year.

Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa had previously predicted that 40 percent less people would travel home this year.

Jamal said the ticket prices were similar to those before Lebaran. Bus operator had increased the tariffs soon after the government announced the fuel price hikes.

"How could we increase the ticket (prices for the holiday) -- because with the current rates only few passengers have bought them," he said.

Erni, a ticket seller in Lebak Bulus bus terminal, whose buses served Jakarta-Surabaya routes, said that many people had canceled their trips after learning of the higher prices.

Suparjo, another ticket seller, said that the company could not lower its prices. "If we lower our fares, we cannot cover operational costs."

He estimated that only half the usual number of Lebaran travelers had bought bus tickets.

Antara reported that Kampung Rambutan bus terminal in East Jakarta was similarly quiet.

Max Duyun, a terminal employee, said only 129,122 people were recorded to have bought tickets from the terminal in the last seven days before Idul Fitri. Last year, the figure was 195,199 for the same period.

Other terminals in Bandung were also quiet, the report said.

Lebaran is usually a profitable time for bus drivers, many who sell tickets at higher prices than those regulated by the government.

"Last year I could take over Rp 2 million home during Lebaran. I may only get several hundred thousand this year," Jamal said.