'I have no alternative besides taxis'

'I have no alternative besides taxis'

One month after the central government raised fuel prices by 29
percent, the Jakarta administration eventually nodded to the taxi
operators' demand for new fares, despite the fact that the
service provided by many of them is substandard. The Jakarta Post
asked residents their opinions on the issue.

Yanti, 33, works at a foreign cement company in South Jakarta.
She lives with her only child in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta:

I'm a regular user of taxis. I used to take a taxi to work
every day because I found it convenient.

Now that the fare has increased I must recalculate my budget
for taxis. I think I will only take a taxi to work two or three
times a week. I will start getting up earlier and take the bus.

I'm grateful that many taxis are still using the old fare as
they announced on stickers placed on their windscreens.

If I have time to wait, I prefer to take a taxi with the "old
fare" stickers. But most of the time I just take any cab because
I am always in a hurry.

I hope that the city administration will provide us with more
convenient alternative public transportation besides taxis
because although the busway is good, it only passes through
particular areas and it's not in my neighborhood.

Wawan, 29, is a musician who plays in several cafes and hotels
in Jakarta. He lives with his wife in Depok, West Java:

I really object to the increase in taxi fares as I depend on
taxis to travel from one place to another every night I play. I
have to bring my guitar, you know.

It's true that there are several taxi companies that haven't
raised their fares but I have had several bad experiences using
taxis from these companies.

One night, I was in a hurry to go to a hotel in West Jakarta
to play at a dinner party. I went out early so that I could wait
to take an old-meter taxi because Depok to Grogol is quite a
distance, and I thought I would save a lot.

However, I arrived half an hour late at the hotel because the
taxi broke down in the middle of the journey, and I had to help
the driver push the car as I couldn't find another taxi.
Fortunately, I was still able to play at the party.

--The Jakarta Post