'Busway and monorail, the best solutions'

In an attempt to ease the capital's chronic traffic problems, the Jakarta administration has asked investors to contribute to the high-cost construction of new busway and monorail projects. The Jakarta Post talked to a few residents on the issue, who cited congestion on the roads and the lack of security on buses as reasons why they were reluctant to use public transportation.

Taru J. Wisnu, 31, is the project manager of a telecommunications company in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. He lives in a boarding house in Karet Kuningan, South Jakarta:

I think the busway and monorail are among the best solutions to traffic problems in Jakarta, as the streets are already too crowded.

Busway was controversial in the beginning, but it has proved effective. Not so many people are using it right now as its network is not big yet.

We cannot compare the busway to other transportation systems in developed countries. They already have a wide network and people can easily go anywhere they please.

The city administration has to deal with the current public buses. Obviously they cannot be used for the new busway. Maybe, they can serve suburban areas. The traffic downtown would be better regulated, and more transportation would be available in suburban areas.

I.P. Silalahi, 57, is the dean of the school of law at Bhayangkara Jaya University. He lives with his family in Ampera, South Jakarta:

I think the construction of the busway came too late. But, then again, better late than never.

The busway should not only ply the route from Blok M to Kota. It should take passengers from Greater Jakarta areas -- Bekasi, Tangerang, or Depok -- so that the number of incoming cars to Jakarta, and within the city, declines. Think about how much time is wasted, and petrol consumed, at present.

The public buses should be used as feeders only. If they are cleaner with no street musicians aboard, who I think extort money from passengers, I'm sure more people would be willing to use them.

The city administration should also provide cheap and safe parking lots at train stations. People from Depok, for example, could park their cars there and travel to Jakarta by train.

--The Jakarta Post