Free-ticket-to-ride for busway fans

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