City transportation system need compete overhaul

D. A. Simarmata, School of Economics, University of Indonesia, Jakarta

Jakarta is known for its chronic traffic congestion. Even though it is still less severe than Bangkok, it is much worse than our city state neighbor, Singapore. Considering the low level of motorization, the congestion level and its wide dispersion throughout the city is comparatively very high. One of the sources of traffic congestion is the malfunction of the public transportation system. Some years ago there was a plan for the construction of a mass rapid transit (MRT) in the form of subways, but the cost was beyond reach, leading to its postponement.

The demand for urban public transportation has since only increased, urging the people and institutions responsible to seek a solution or an alternative. The probable one in sight is the adoption of a bus-way or bus based system, or the eventual upgrading to a light rapid transit system (LRT).

The present transportation system in Jakarta consists of the rail and bus system. The bus system is in a chaotic state, without any inherent regularity of operation. The problem is further exacerbated by the presence of angkot (public minivans), which leads to an inefficient system.

Public transportation in the city is not part of an integrated system, as characteristic of cities in industrialized countries. The most visible characteristic of its disintegration is in the terminal system, and at the points of passenger transfer from one bus line to another.

Further, there is no fixed and reliable schedule within the bus system, let alone a coordinated schedule within and between the bus system and the rail system. The rail system is limited in spatial coverage, in a simple straight line service, not in a form of a branching network or a grid. And last but not least, the main deficiency in the public transportation system in Jakarta is in its pricing system.

Much waste in congested streets, psychological stress, and air pollution could be substantially reduced by the wide use of the public transportation. Hence, passengers would be relieved of inconvenience and the costly transfer from one bus to another during short distance travels. This would be achieved by the implementation of a valid bus or a train ticket for a period of time, namely for an hour or more. The successful application of the system would need, however, an integration of the whole urban transport system.

The present system in Jakarta is inappropriate for that purpose, primarily due to the absence of the ticket system. The ticket system is certainly difficult if not impossible to be employed using the minivan system. The minivan system operates in competition and is not complementary with the larger bus system. This has been one of the sources of the chaotic state of our public transportation.

The wage system of the public transportation drivers is generally not based on a fixed monthly salary but on a kind of a piece-rate system, except for the state-run city busy company (PPD). The minivan system is mostly owner-operated, and not managed by a company, adding to the complication of the wage system in public transportation. Except for the owner-operated buses and the PPD, the driver has to submit an agreed sum of money per day, known as setoran. to the bus company. Anything earned over and above that amount is for the bus driver and for other operational expenses.

The bus drivers have firstly to pay the daily fee to the bus company, then find additional money for themselves and for operational expenses, including bribes for traffic police, and other illegal and unofficial levies paid to street gangs. To reach their target income, they often violate traffic regulations if by doing so they could get more passengers. Therefore, one of the reasons for traffic violations by the public transportation drivers lies in the wage system, which needs review.

The Jakarta administration's plan to implement a bus-way transportation system should be preceded by an overall review or evaluation of the whole transport system, to look into its operational integration, both in schedule and pricing and the efficiency of the whole bus system.

The efficiency of the bus transportation system has to be improved, and the government has to prepare an alternative plan for the excessive number of small owner-operated buses, by finding them work in a similar or substitute occupation.

The present provision of a public transport system with a variety of services has to be maintained and further extended in spatial coverage. Such a move would encourage the traveler to switch from private cars to public transportation. But the officials must be aware that the safety and convenience of travel has to be guaranteed, which is the responsibility of the police and the Jakarta administration.

In several cities in Europe public transportation is considered a basic human right, because of the absolute necessity to go to work by motorized vehicles.

Therefore public transportation is regarded as a public service. Urban public transportation is heavily subsidized, lying in the range of 60 percent to 70 percent of the total operational costs. This is also true for the United States, a guardian of the free market economy.

Thus, there should be a total rethinking of the public transportation philosophy of Jakarta, especially when the price of gasoline is being gradually raised to the international level. The huge income of the Jakarta government should be sufficient for the implementation of a subsidized urban public transportation system in Jakarta and even for other agglomerations of Indonesia.

This is the right time for that overhaul.