'I'm satisfied with busway services'

'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.