Busway a no-go for private motorists
Leony Aurora, Jakarta
Six months since its launch on Jan. 15, it seems the controversial busway's only success is in providing a faster means of travel as it speeds along its exclusive lane from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta.
"(The busway) is fast. That's its only advantage," said Indra, 33, a regular busway passenger. "It's not comfortable. Passengers are simply pushed in without considering how crowded the bus is," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday morning as he alit from a bus.
The busway is packed during the morning and afternoon rush hours -- 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. -- as it delivers thousands to their offices along main thoroughfares Sudirman and Thamrin. It is also crowded at lunchtime, between 12 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Irwan Iskandar, who lives in Kemang, South Jakarta, preferred to take his own car to the office, which is located in the Sudirman Central Business District.
"I've tried the busway, and it's actually OK. I'm willing to change to the busway if there was a 'friendly' bus from Kemang to Blok M," he said. "It doesn't have to be an air-conditioned one, as long as it is not overloaded."
In a bid to reduce the number of buses and private cars on the capital's busy thoroughfares, the Jakarta administration invested Rp 120 billion (US$13.57 million) last year to build the busway and requested an additional Rp 120 billion this year to finish construction.
The administration had also extended the three-in-one traffic policy to support the system, but the busway has not attracted private car owners to switch their mode of commute.
Transportation experts have repeatedly pointed to the lack of feeder buses and safe public parking structures as the main reasons the busway has not had the expected draw.
Michael Tribiantara, 27, who lives in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, commented: "It's not like I can park my car at the Semanggi cloverleaf and continue on the busway, right? I'd rather take backstreets than use the busway."
He added the busway could be more successful if it passed by housing areas. "Otherwise, it's inefficient."
The Jakarta Public Works Agency said previously it would begin constructing the second busway corridor after the July 5 presidential election.
The corridor, which is to run east-west from Pulogadung to Kalideres via Monas, is expected to be completed this year and operational in 2005. Ultimately, Jakarta is to have 14 busway corridors.
As of Monday, the ramps leading to the busway shelter at the Senayan traffic circle and the bridge to Sawah Besar shelter remained uncovered. Meanwhile, an unfinished elevator was visible at the Sarinah shelter, but no signs of construction were evident at the Senayan shelter, which has been designed with an elevator.
The Post also observed that buses were rarely manned by guards, who are employed by the Public Order Office. Occasionally, a guard boarded -- only to alight a couple of stops later.
"The busway management doesn't want us there," said a guard, who preferred to remain anonymous.
"There were some problems with drivers. They will not listen to us when we tell them not to drive so fast," he said.
Meanwhile, the city has also broken ground on its monorail project, and it is feared these multiple constructions throughout the capital will add to traffic problems long before they offer solutions, if any.