Busway popularity rises, traffic remains same

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.