City traffic jams blamed on poor planning

Adianto P Simamora and Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ever feel like you are going nowhere in this city? Perhaps it's because you are -- stuck in one of Jakarta's notorious traffic jams. Frazzled commuters could do well to take this website's advice:

"Consider the time that you spend caught in traffic jams as an opportunity to make some phone calls from your cell-phone or even to do some work. Be aware, however, that phone thefts from cars stopped at traffic lights are becoming more common, so it's best to only phone while the car is moving."

That tip, posted on an Indonesian website for expatriates, http://www.expat.or.id, indicates how tiresome and sometimes risky it is for people to travel along Jakarta's roads.

Shruti Lohia, an Indian businessman, describes Jakarta as a nice city but with too much traffic congestion and believes the city's road network is becoming one of the worst in Asia.

"Every day, we spend two hours communicating from our home to office and vice versa over a distance of just 15 kilometers," Shruti, who lives in a Pondok Indah complex, told The Jakarta Post.

Ayako Shimizu, a staff member at the Information and Culture Section at the Japanese Embassy here, described the city's road network as uncontrolled and unplanned.

"I have to say it is very chaotic. It looks as if no one has any patience," Shimizu, who has been living here for about a year, said.

In jams Shimizu says she tries to enjoy himself by doing some work, reading or taking a nap.

"When you're in a bis kota (city bus) you can also shop at the same time. (Traders) sell many things, from candy and other snacks, sandals, dictionaries and even nail clippers," she said.

Ahn Ali, a Korean businessman living in Pondok Gede, said that the administration's poor transportation concept was the main reason behind the chronic traffic jams.

"The busway only helps a little and I think the (planned) monorail will (not help much) either," he said.

"The three-in-one policy is troubling as it makes it difficult for motorists to move around (the center of the city)," Ahn said. The city was also hectic for pedestrians as most of its sidewalks were occupied by motorists or street vendors.

A recent study estimated the average traveling speed in the city is only 14.75 kilometers an hour.

The situation has been exacerbated by the increasing number of vehicles in the city. There are now about 4.7 million vehicles in the city, some 1.3 million of which are private cars.

Last year, in a bid to ease the daily congestion, the city administration launched the busway project along the main street linking the Blok M and Kota areas. The administration plans to expand the busway project, construct some new flyovers and underpasses, and build a monorail network.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian transportation community (MTI) urged the city authorities to actively involve the public in transportation projects from the planning phase to the monitoring of their development and the maintenance of the facilities.

"The government must involve communities in all stages of transportation projects," chairman Bambang Susantono told The Post.

Bambang admitted that the administration had formally asked members of the public and community groups for their input over transportation issues, but said it had never seriously considered their suggestions.