Busway system

Busway system

A new transportation system called the busway will soon be put
in service in Jakarta. The busway is intended to overcome traffic
problems in the city. However, in my opinion, this new system
will sooner or later become part of the traffic problems.

It seems that the planners have failed to consider some
serious problems. For example, the busway will operate in the
elite areas such as Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Rasuna Said (Kuningan) and
Jl. Medan Merdeka. In fact, Jakarta has broad, integrated and
interactive traffic problems.

Another factor not thoroughly considered is that the busway
will "steal" one lane on the roads where it operates, where there
already are not enough lanes. The busway will use a special lane
not specially built but taken from the existing lanes, according
to Kompas on Nov. 5.

Therefore it will reduce the already insufficient number of
road lanes, and hence the situation will go from bad to worse.
What is behind all this busway business?

To make matters worse, some of the trees along the road will
be cut down to make space for busway stops.

An alternative solution that is worth considering is building
an underground railway system. Also trams could help ease traffic
in Jakarta.

Building more asphalt roads won't solve the problem as it will
just cause people to buy new cars and we will end up with more
vehicles on the roads. A solution to the traffic problems in
Jakarta must include all of Jakarta and its surroundings, so as
to serve the interest of the majority of the population, instead
of exclusively focusing on the elite parts of the city.

SIMSON E. SILALAHI
Jakarta