'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