Free-ticket-to-ride for busway fans

Ibu Ami knew nothing about the busway until her husband took her on Thursday morning to the Kota busway shelter in West Jakarta to enjoy the initial two-week free busway rides.

"My husband skipped work today because he wants me to enjoy the free ride. The bus looks nice," said the housewife, who said she rarely traveled around the city.

She arrived at the shelter at 10:30 a.m., but had to wait until after Governor Sutiyoso had officially launched the busway and finally boarded at 1:30 p.m.

City administration officials was all ceremony during the launch, but for Jakartans, the busway launch meant fun.

Many passengers have already taken several round-trips just to get around the city for free.

Laila, 32, a resident of Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, took her mother and two daughters to Kota just for the free ride on the new air-conditioned buses.

"I heard that busway will be free of charge during the first two weeks, so I want to take advantage of the opportunity and travel around the city," she said.

Laila and her family changed buses five times during their sight-seeing tour.

"I found out that the travel time is not that different from the buses I usually take," she said.

Another passenger said that he took the busway because it could take him to Kota quicker.

"I work in Glodok and if the busway is really faster (than a normal bus) I will use it from now on," he said. -- JP