City transportation is a basic human right

City transportation is a basic human right

Traffic and ground transportation have become major headaches for
residents of Jakarta. The city administration has failed to deal
with the chaotic traffic that clogs the capital's streets, and an
integrated transportation system offering safe and fast mass
rapid transit remains but a dream. The Jakarta Post's Soeryo
Winoto discussed the issue with Jakarta-based urban
transportation expert Djamester Simarmata.

Question: How do you see the current traffic and
ground transportation system in Jakarta?

Answer: The system is chaotic from the point of view of both
structure and infrastructure. For road users the transportation
system and traffic is like a jungle, where the bigger creatures
(buses, trucks) are the "winners" and there is nothing to stop
them. The (traffic) regulations have been corrupted.

The city administration never planned a proper road network
system based on a certain pattern. There is no continuing road
network system in the city.

The total road surface (in Jakarta) is just about 6 percent of
the width of the city. The roads in Tokyo are 25 percent,
Washington 23 percent and Paris 20 percent of the width of the
cities.

In all cities in the world public transportation is a public
service, whose operation depends on a government subsidy. In some
countries the subsidy reaches about 70 percent. In several cities
in France public transportation is considered part of human
rights. It is the citizens' right to get to their places of work
to make ends meet. We should adopt this paradigm.

Q: There has been an uncontrollable increase in the number of
vehicles on the road. Is it possible to limit the ownership of
cars in Jakarta?

A: Limitation based on the age of vehicles would be an unpopular
policy. In some other countries in Europe older vehicles are
allowed to operate but they must be road worthy.

And if the government wants to limit the ownership of vehicles
my first question would be, has the government managed public
transportation well? If public transportation is still inferior,
limiting the ownership of cars would violate human rights.

I have said that the government should first improve the
public transportation system, which is a basic need of the
citizens.

At the recent World Sustainable Development summit in
Johannesburg it was recommended that things relating to the basic
needs of people, including public transportation, be given
priority. Ibu Megawati (Soekarnoputri) was also there, but
afterward she recommended the construction of new toll roads at
home.

Q: Do the law enforcers contribute to the chaotic traffic?

A: One of the traffic problems is the law enforcers. Bribery is
rampant on the streets. The other factors are drivers (of private
and public transportation vehicles). City bus drivers routinely
violate traffic regulations as a result of poor law enforcement.

The daily rent agreement between the bus owners, including the
state, and the drivers also contributes to the drivers ignoring
public safety on the streets. It's time to review the daily rent
deal. The deal only leads to what I call an "ultra-market
system", where everybody and everything is money oriented.

Q: The need for an integrated transportation system, including a
mass rapid transit (MRT) system, was initially voiced in the
1980s but so far the government has yet to take concrete steps to
implement the idea. Why?

A: It's a question of the interests of the related ministries.
Each ministry has been competing to handle and control the
integrated transportation system project.

In the 1980s I wrote an article about the priority of an urban
road network. I said that toll roads were the option taken after
we could not construct new artery roads for some reason.

Why don't we just widen the existing artery roads instead of
constructing new toll roads? Toll roads are supposed to ease
traffic congestion, but practically they cause congestion at
other spots. The construction of toll roads encourages people to
buy cars.

Q: Uncertain zoning plans and their poor implementation have been
cited as major contributors to the traffic chaos. How do you see
this?

A: There was no clear zoning plan from the beginning and the
implementation (of the plan) has obviously contradicted what was
on paper. There should have been detailed data on the ownership
of property, including trees. The data would enable the city
administration to compensate the owners once it started a
development project that requires people's property.

Those in charge of zoning lack discipline. There is no open
space left for children to play in this metropolis. All vacant
spaces have been used for business purposes.

Q: What kind of integrated transportation system does Jakarta
really need at this time?

A: The entire existing transportation system must be reviewed.
There must be a transformation of mode of transportation;
smaller, medium and bigger based on the areas where they operate.

A connecting network among bus terminals is required to help
passengers get transportation to their final destination.

Financially, a ticketing system is the best choice. Passengers
must buy a one-way ticket, valid for one hour, to go from one
place to another. The passengers must buy another ticket for
another one-hour trip. Owners of public transportation must be
treated as contractors hired by the city administration.

Mass rapid transit (MRT) is part of an integrated system. It's
time for the city administration to get an MRT system because the
existing bus system can no longer transport sufficient numbers of
passengers.

Q: It is obvious that the city administration has no clear plan
to handle traffic problems, so it can hardly be expected that it
would have a plan for an integrated transportation system. Your
comment?

A: Jakarta needs a national concept for this issue. The central
government's interference is required. There must be a
multiministerial move to make the capital city's transportation
and traffic systems more humane and orderly.

A total overhaul of the whole system is a must. Road users,
including drivers, must improve their discipline, the authorities
must guarantee the safety of public transportation passengers and
the owners of public bus companies must review their existing
managerial systems.

Q: What do you think is the role of the railway service in an
integrated transportation system?

A: The service of electric commuter trains (plying the Jakarta-
Bogor-Tangerang-Bekasi) routes must be improved. These trains,
which can take large numbers of passengers, are a cheap mode of
transportation for the people. They are also pollution free. Air
pollution in Jakarta is reaching alarming levels. And trains are
a safe means of transportation. For the time being, the trains
can serve as an MRT.