Difficulty Obtaining Ride-Hailing Services During Peak Hours? Here Are the Suspected Causes
Jakarta – A number of users have complained about the difficulty of obtaining ride-hailing services (ojek online), particularly during peak hours. This phenomenon has generated considerable discussion on social media and has prompted various theories about its causes.
Transport observer Deddy Herlambang stated that the scarcity of ride-hailing services at certain times could be influenced by several factors. “The shortage of ojol can occur due to several possibilities, such as unfavourable weather, the start of Ramadan, or many consumers choosing cheaper fares, which drivers are unwilling to accept,” Herlambang told Kompas.com on Friday, 13 March 2026.
For this reason, when fares are perceived as disproportionate to travel conditions, some drivers may choose not to accept orders. On social media, complaints about the difficulty of obtaining ride-hailing services are indeed gaining momentum amongst internet users. Some users have even referred to the situation as an “ojol crisis”.
From various information circulating on social media and within driver communities, there is speculation that this phenomenon is related to an imbalance between driver earnings and the operational costs they incur. Several drivers are said to be choosing to go offline or declining orders at certain times, particularly when traffic is severely congested.
Regarding this, Herlambang also highlighted the commission model of ride-hailing applications, which he believes can influence drivers’ willingness to accept orders. “Perhaps the application’s commission of around 20 per cent is not attractive to ride-hailing drivers,” Herlambang said.
On the other hand, Herlambang argued that the debate over ride-hailing services should not be divorced from the broader context of urban transport systems as a whole. Ride-hailing services are fundamentally not considered part of the national transport system, but rather private transport or paratransit characterised by direct point-to-point services (door-to-door service).
“Urban transport that is absolutely necessary is an integrated multi-modal system. In countries with advanced transport systems, ride-hailing services do not actually exist, because ride-hailing is essentially a social phenomenon, not purely a transport requirement,” he said.
As a solution, he proposed limiting the number of ride-hailing drivers so that the balance between fares and driver numbers can be maintained. “The solution is to establish quotas on ride-hailing drivers so that drivers can enjoy ideal fares,” Herlambang said.