Busway evaluation

Busway evaluation

From Trust

Based on the observations of Consumer Protection, Jakarta, the free busway transport during the 14-day popularization period in January missed its target.

The busway system was designed to offer security and comfort to passengers, with a seating capacity of 80. But the number of passengers in that period was allowed to exceed the bus' capacity, thus making the transport uncomfortable.

From the beginning, the busway project was aimed at employees with private cars, so that they would perhaps choose the relatively cheaper public transport in order to reduce traffic congestion. Those still going by car were subjected to the three- in-one rule for the same purpose. In reality, main roads remained crowded with private cars because the busway lane takes up four meters of the road's width.

Feeder buses should have been operating in the course of the popularization period, while regular or air-conditioned bus services running parallel to busway routes should have been suspended so that people experienced the benefits of the new system. In the meantime, the quality of the busway service should be enhanced by the increased number of feeder buses.

IRWAN SUKMAWIJAYA Consumer Protection Jakarta