Jakarta-Cirebon bus fare

Jakarta-Cirebon bus fare

From Kompas

On behalf of myself and my friends from the low income bracket
I would like to draw the attention of the authorities to the
indiscriminate bus fares imposed on us who are regular Jakarta-
Cirebon commuters.

On May 17, 1994 I was charged Rp 5,000 although the official
price of Rp 3,500 was clearly printed on the ticket of PO Warga
Baru.

After some time another bus company, PT Armada Jaya Penunjang
Sari, charged me Rp 6,000.

The mark-up price for Warga Baru is at least Rp 75,000 one way
per bus load, according to our rough calculation and the Armada
Jaya Penunjang Sari Rp 125,000 per load. That is the money that
goes to the pocket of the drivers and the bus conductors.

On Aug. 17, 1994 the Independence Day holiday, a friend of
mine was forced to pay Rp 15,000 one way by a bus conductor who
was apparently colluding with a con-man who looked scary and
carried a machete. The exorbitant price applied to all passengers
on the bus.

Most of us are lowly paid construction workers, manual labors
or side street vendors who put aside a little amount of the money
we earn in Jakarta to send to our village. Our income, even to
support a very simple way of life in Jakarta, hardly makes our
ends meet. Yet, the bus crew have the heart to squeeze us.

Name and address

withheld.