'It's tiring driving in Jakarta'

'It's tiring driving in Jakarta'

The strong sales reported at the ongoing Jakarta Motor Show in
Senayan, Central Jakarta, indicate car demand remains high.
Transportation observers often link the increasing number of
private vehicles on the roads with the poor public transportation
provided by the city administration. The Jakarta Post talked to
some residents about the issue.

Savitri, 38, is a housewife. She lives in Jatiasih, Bekasi,
with her husband and daughter:

We don't have a car because my husband and I don't think we
need one. It's better for us to have a motorcycle, although it
means that we have to squeeze to fit all three of us on the
vehicle.

My neighbors who work always talk about how early they have to
leave in the morning to get to the office on time. They have to
fight with other cars to get on the toll road.

Since I rarely go anywhere, and my husband prefers to take the
motorcycle to his office in Kuningan, South Jakarta, it's no use
having a car.

Living in a housing complex, I can't help but ask myself when
I see neighbors with more than one car if it is really necessary
to have so many cars?

Linawati, 32, is a housewife and runs a business from her
home. She lives with her husband and two children in Pondok
Bambu, East Jakarta:

My husband prefers to take the bus to work instead of driving.
He always complains about the traffic congestion, which seems to
be getting worse each day. By taking the bus -- he usually takes
an air-conditioned one -- he can rest and sleep, if he gets a
seat. Otherwise, he has to stand up until he reaches his office
on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

My husband only takes the car to his office when it is near
the Idul Fitri holiday and around New Year, because then the
streets are very quiet.

Actually, we don't use our car much, only to drive my daughter
to school (in Rawamangun) or during holidays or the weekend. I
don't really enjoy driving .... If I can take a taxi or public
minivan, I prefer to do so. It's very tiring driving through the
congestion in Jakarta.

-- The Jakarta Post