'Busway has made traffic in the city unbearable'

Less than a week after the launch of the TransJakarta Busway, the busway shelters are packed with people who are happily waiting to board one of its 56 buses for free. However, for many motorists, the project is nothing but a source of annoyance. They must struggle daily with the extension of the hours of the three-in- one traffic policy, and congestion along the busway corridor. The Jakarta Post talked to some motorists on the issue.

Narwito, 32, is an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver in Glodok, West Jakarta. He lives in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

With the busway project, a number of alleys and shortcuts we used to take to reach Jl. Gajah Mada are no longer accessible. I have problems getting to certain roads and at times I have to take a longer route to get my passengers to their destination. Although the traveling time is longer the passengers refuse to pay more.

The project has also resulted in severe congestion in the vicinity of Glodok electronics market. Traffic jams also occur along the busway corridor. It is unbearable, the traffic is so congested and vehicles move at a snail's pace.

Hermando, 27, owns a franchise restaurant in Cinere, South Jakarta. He lives nearby:

I occasionally drive my car along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin for business. I know exactly what it feels like to be trapped in a traffic jam there.

I think busway, however, is a very good idea in the long run. Despite all its flaws, I totally support it.

I myself will use the busway if I have to travel along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, instead of wasting an hour or so in a traffic jam.

I also hope that other Jakartans, especially the rich who usually drive their own cars, will not be ashamed to use the busway service. I mean, what's so degrading about boarding a public bus, anyway?

-- The Jakarta Post