Bus route changes

Bus route changes

From Pikiran Rakyat

On Dec. 30, I left Cimahi at dawn for Bogor. I took the Parahyangan line (I unfortunately did not memorize its number) which travels the Bandung-Jakarta route since there was no bus going to Bogor through Cimahi.

Assuming the bus would take the usual route, I paid the conductor Rp 3,500. I protested, because I was used to paying only Rp 3,000, but paid anyway.

Upon arrival at Cianjur, the bus entered the terminal. I heard from a seller the bus was headed for Jonggol and bypassing Puncak. I did not believe this at first, but, when we turned into the road leading to Jonggol, I realized we were really not going to pass Ciawi.

Another traveler was going to the same destination and the moment he found out the bus was not going to Ciawi he got off, after claiming the remaining bus fee. I followed suit, but was less fortunate in claiming my fee. The conductor refused to refund it, as neither of us had any small change. I got off without being reimbursed because I was worried the bus was going to take me too far off my destination.

I arrived at Cianjur terminal after all, by mini van, and took a connection to Bogor.

I do not know why the Parahyangan line rescheduled its route at the end of 1996, instead of going through Puncak as usual. The regular route would have taken me as far as Ciawi, from which place I could easily reach Bogor. I also do not understand why the conductor had not informed us at the start that the route had been changed.

I hope the management of the Parahyangan bus line will upgrade the quality of its passenger service and offer personnel the opportunity to complete more training. Satisfaction with the company would certainly leave a positive mark on its clients and prospective customers.

NURUL RAHMAH

Bogor, West Java