Busway popularity rises, traffic remains same

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Since its launch on Jan. 15, city residents have warmed to the busway as shown by the increasing number of passengers over the last three months.

According to data from the TransJakarta busway management, the number of passengers in the first week of February, after the two-week trial period, reached 259,600. From early February to mid-March 2,535,068 passengers boarded the busway, while that figure jumped to 313,246 in the last week of March.

During the last week of March, the outdoor campaign period for the general election campaign was in full swing.

On March 30, the number of passengers reached 62,323 a day. On that day two political parties, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR), held outdoor campaigns.

Previously, Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) chairman Suyono Dikun warned that the busway project was unlikely to succeed as only a small percentage of car owners traversing between Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta would be willing to use public transportation.

The Jakarta Post observed that the number of busway passengers peaked around 8 a.m., lunch time (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.) and also in the afternoon around 4 p.m.

Many passengers have opted for the busway due to the extended three-in-one policy along the busway corridor from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Janni, who works for a private bank on Jl. Sudirman said that she often took the busway during her lunch hour.

"It is easier to ride the busway if I want to have lunch at a place located on Jl. Sudirman or Jl. M.H. Thamrin than to drive a car," she said.

Hetih, a busway commuter, said that she enjoyed taking the busway because it was faster and safer than regular buses.

"I've seen many passengers using their cell phones, that would never happen on public minibuses or other regular buses," she said.

Another passenger, Titis, said she always took the busway from her house in Ciputat to her workplace in the Olimo area.

"It's a lot faster to take the busway because it is not subject to traffic jams. Therefore, I can save up to 30 minutes and get home earlier than usual," she said.

She also said that it was a lot more comfortable than regular buses or air-conditioned Patas buses, as street musicians were prohibited from boarding.

However, she was not sure about the city administration's plan to build other busway corridors, such as along Kalideres- Pulogadung, Blok M-Lebak Bulus, Kota-Ragunan and Kota-Kampung Rambutan.

"I think building more corridors would cause more traffic jams in the city, because the busway needs a special lane and the planned routes are not as wide as the main thoroughfares, such as Jl. Sudirman or Jl. M.H. Thamrin," she said.

The current busway corridor has already caused the Jakarta Public Works Agency to start widening sections of these roads.

Another busway passenger criticized the busway service which she said had not improved over the last three months.

"The ride itself is comfortable, but busway officers should be more helpful by telling passengers which shelter is closest to their destination," she said.

Many urban activists and transportation observers, however, warned the busway management not to take the popularity of busway for granted and to keep trying to improve the service, especially in accommodating disabled people.