Jakarta traffic a headache

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