'Busway is good, but won't last'

'Busway is good, but won't last'

The launch of the controversial busway project, not unexpectedly,
attracted thousands of Jakartans to take a free ride from Blok M,
South Jakarta, to Kota, West Jakarta, along the special traffic-
free lane. Some commuters The Jakarta Post spoke to found the
busway had its advantages, but also liabilities.

Dede Syahputra, 42, works at a courier company in Tomang,
Central Jakarta. He lives in Serpong, Tangerang, with his wife
and two children:

I found that the ride wasn't so comfortable, as I had to vie
for space on the bus, which was still taking passengers. The bus
was also stuck for quite a long time in a traffic jam at the
intersection near the State Palace.

Well, the busway shortens my travel time from the Blok M bus
terminal to Glodok, West Jakarta. Usually, it takes me about two
hours, but today it took less than an hour. The air conditioner
also helped to ease my weariness.

Opi, 27, is a paraplegic who lives in Pondok Bambu, East
Jakarta:

The bus is quite comfortable, but it doesn't provide any
safety rails for people confined to wheelchairs, just the
handrails near the doors.

The ramps are also too steep for me, so I have to ask others
to help.

The entrance gates at several shelters are too narrow for
wheelchairs, like the one in Kota.

Another thing is the wide gap between the bus and the shelter
platform, which is not only dangerous for disabled people, but
also for elderly people and pregnant women.

Budi, 35, works at state electricity company PLN. He lives
with his wife and children in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta:

I parked my motorcycle at Ratu Plaza and boarded one of the
buses. So far, the busway is good in terms of comfort and arrival
time. It's the fastest bus, as well.

But I'm afraid such good things won't last, because of
undisciplined passengers or the motorists who get in the busway
lane. Today, we have many police officers to ensure the launch
ran successfully, but later, the busway will face some really big
trouble.

-- The Jakarta Post