Jakarta traffic a headache

I do not live in Jakarta and I do not envy those people who have to struggle every day to go to work by going through the most archaic and inefficient traffic system in the world.

I have lived abroad for over 20 years and watched how governments attempt to solve traffic problems in big cities.

In my opinion, no one has succeeded yet in tackling the problems, be they are Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Malaysians, Indonesians etc.

Singaporeans appear to enjoy driving around the city better compared to other residents of metropolitan cities in the world. Perhaps, we can learn something from them.

The main problem a metropolitan city is built to accommodate business and not comfort, safety, and inhabitability. I must declare that metropolitan cities are not suitable to live and socialize in for humans.

The biggest problem in Jakarta is that there are too many cars and too few efficient roads and streets. The application of a modern Western road system (including highways, toll roads, subways) seems to invite more people to own cars. People are clever and ingenious in coming up with ways to beat traffic systems and regulations, including the three-in-one policy.

My suggestion is to replace the three-in-one policy with a "motorcycle passage policy", i.e. motorcycles are allowed to use the designated Jakarta thoroughfares during rush hours. This policy will encourage people to use motorcycles for commuting. I realize that motorcycles are the worst polluters, but at the same time, the most efficient form of transportation.

I would opt declaring certain business zones to be free from private cars, thus forcing people to use public transportation to reach these areas. I would like to see bicycle paths built to crisscross business centers so that people can ride bikes to go from and to their parked cars. Riding bikes is very healthy (especially if you can breathe clean air).

Buses are the worst form of public transportation. They are frequently overloaded and they cause traffic jams. A subway train system can replace the aging bus system (although I do not know how long the system would last given the bad habit of Indonesians to litter and deface public properties).

In my opinion, there should be emphasis on developing public transportation policies and systems, and the government should de-emphasize the facilitation of private traffic patterns.

It is time for the city and road polluters to be punished because they cause much discomfort, including health problems to the majority of people who live in Jakarta.

It is also time for Indonesians to clean up the mess created by the bad habits of ignorance and laziness. If you want to live longer and healthier: start living cleanly.

KRISHNAHARI S. PRIBADI

Cimahi, West Java