Is this the end of the road for 'Cidomo'?

Panca Nugraha, Contributor, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara

Dozens of cidomo (two-wheeled horse carriage) queue up at the Ampenan Cerah Ceria Plaza from early morning to late evening waiting for passengers.

It is a common sight in the province's capital, to see people use cidomo to take them to their destinations. Each cidomo can carry eight to 10 passengers. The fee is relatively low, yet it can be bargained.

Measuring about 1.5 meters square and using car wheels, cidomo is a specific and popular means of public transport on Lombok island, especially in Mataram.

The horses that pull cidomo are usually colorfully adorned with accessories which tinkle every time they move.

Cidomo has been familiar to people in Mataram for so long that no one really knows its history.

Even Suhandi, 46, who has served as a cidomo driver for 12 years, has no idea on the origins of the carriage.

"Cidomo is not a Sasak word," he said, referring to Lombok's native language.

People believe that cidomo is derived from a combination of cikar (bullock cart), dokar (buggy) and motor (motorcycle).

Some cidomo drivers said that back in the 1970s and 1980s there were only cikar and dokar to carry goods and passengers. Both carriages then developed into more modern and more efficient vehicles.

In East Lombok, cidomo is known as becak, said Suhandi, who usually earns Rp 20,000 (US$2.1) per day.

There are about 8,000 cidomo, 2,067 of which are operating in Mataram. The remainder can be found in three other regencies: West Lombok, Central Lombok and East Lombok.

But the large number of cidomo has proved to be a headache for the Mataram administration.

"The number of cidomo increases every year," said Lalu Serinata, head of the Mataram Information and Communication Office.

In 1998, the local Land Transportation Agency issued a regulation obliging cidomo drivers to have driving license and vehicle registration number. They also called on the drivers to provide a horse manure bag in each carriage.

The agency has also launched an annual movement -- in coordination with municipal guards -- to discipline cidomo owners and drivers.

Swira, the municipal guards commander, said that cidomo drivers often violated regulations which resulted in horse manure being scattered around the city.

"Violators caught red-handed are usually taken to the nearest office to make a letter pledging they won't repeat it in the future," Swira said, adding that driving licenses will be revoked if they continue violating regulations.

But still many cidomo drivers ignore the regulation as they continue to queue for passengers in the city center.

"They disperse when the municipal guards launch an operation, but return to the center when the operation is over," Swira said.

Cidomo has been blamed as the source of traffic jams in streets in Mataram. Therefore, the administration has planned to replace cidomo with bajaj (three-wheeled motorized pedicabs).

"But the replacement plan will be implemented gradually," said Lalu.

Many people still prefer to use cidomo. Besides, it has created job opportunities and given income to people, including grass cutters who supply grass to cidomo owners to feed their horses.

Lalu further disclosed that the Mataram administration would restrict cidomo operations in certain areas and ban them from operating along main streets.

"Since two years ago we have banned the addition of cidomo," Lalu said.

The administration has yet to officially ban cidomo operations in Mataram but drivers have started to feel uneasy about their future. They hope the administration will not ban cidomo.

Driver Ahmad expressed concern at the administration's plan to ban cidomo because they cause traffic jam.

"We can follow the regulations," he said.