'I'm satisfied with busway services'

The busway project stretching from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta celebrated its first anniversary on Jan. 15. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents whether they enjoy services provided by busway buses.

Magdalene Ella Ubaidi, 25, an entrepreneur who owns a boutique in Kota, West Jakarta. She resides with her family on Jl. Tirtayasa, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

I enjoy services provided by the busway buses. I often use busway buses to reach my work place as it's convenient, cheap and secure.

But, I find it difficult to reach the nearest busway shelter from my home. Only few feeder buses are operational and I can not rely on them.

I also observe that the management of the busway has failed to provide supporting facilities for passengers who want to continue their trips. For example, in some locations in Kota, the absence of necessary pedestrian bridges, zebra crossings and traffic lights that would help pedestrians cross the road safely has ended up with repeated traffic accidents.

Heru, 35, works in an advertising company in Pulogadung industrial estate in East Jakarta. He resides with his family in Pondok Kopi, also in East Jakarta.

"For the Jakarta administration and bus passengers who now enjoy better services of the busway, the project is simply a success story. But, please, keep in mind that the success is at the expense of other road users. The traffic along the corridor has worsened since the busway takes up two lanes previously designed for private cars.

People have complained that chronic traffic jams as a result of the operation of busway. But, I myself have not been affected by the first corridor.

What I am afraid of is the administration's plan to build the second and third corridors. The plan will definitely affect me. I could not imagine how chronic traffic congestion would be should the new busway projects begin their operation.

Wahyudi, 29, a resident of Kebayoran Lama Utara subdistrict in South Jakarta, who works for a private company on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta.

I rely on busway buses for my daily transportation to the office. I take a busway bus from Blok M and it is much faster compared to a regular bus. My suggestion is the city administration will prioritize busway passengers.

The absence of a feeder service is the only weakness of the busway corridor. It takes me nearly one hour from my house to Blok M, much longer than the trip from Blok M to my office, which is only 30 minutes.

If there is a feeder facility, it will be very helpful for people who are quite far from the busway service.

I also agree that the city administration develop more busway corridors. It will help smoothen trips for commuters like me.