'Jockeys' out, stickers in for Jakarta motorists

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is set to scrap the "three-in-one" traffic regulation for Jakarta's major thoroughfares and replace it with car stickers, an official said yesterday.

Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi said the stickers had been deemed the best method for collecting additional revenue.

"For sure the money from the sale of the stickers will be used to improve public transportation fleets, most of which are already in bad condition," he said.

Under the new system, motorists who pass through the current three-in-one zones -- Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta and Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta -- during the morning peak hours will be required to buy the stickers, he said.

The three-in-one regulation, which was introduced in 1992, stipulates that a private car must contain a minimum of three passengers between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on work days.

The municipality indicated its intention to abolish the regulation late last year on the grounds that it is no longer effective.

The regulation was originally intended to discourage people from driving their cars to work and encourage them to use public transport.

But it created a new problem: "jockeys", people who offer themselves as passengers for a short ride into the restricted zones and past the police checkpoints for a fee of Rp 1,000 (10 U.S. cents).

Police are virtually powerless to stop the practice, which is a popular way for boys who go to school in the afternoon to earn pocket money. But now girls, housewives and even women with babies have joined the trend.

Sticker price

Kahfi said yesterday he could not reveal when the new policy would be implemented or the cost of the stickers.

"We are still studying aspects of the sticker system.

"One of the considerations in determining the cost of stickers is the amount motorists pay to the jockeys."

Kahfi said the administration has invited private companies to participate in the project but PT Wijaya Wisesa was the only firm to submit a proposal for the system's implementation.

PT Wijaya Wisesa reportedly proposed that motorists be charged Rp 5,000 per entry, Rp 8,000 for the entire day and Rp 100,000 for a month.

Kahfi denied allegations that the sticker system was primarily aimed at boosting city revenue.

"It's purely for improving public transportation".

A member of City Council Commission D for development affairs, Lukman Mokoginta, said yesterday he supported the system but disagreed with the involvement of private companies.

"The system is good because the money can be used to improve public transportation, but it will be better if the administration manages it alone.

"There are no private companies which have experience in managing traffic."

Lukman hoped the administration would ensure transparent reports be made available on the flow of revenue.

"The most important thing is transparency to ensure the fund is really used for improving public transport."

The sticker fees should not be imposed on public transportation vehicles, motorcycles or taxis, he said.

However, the system was criticized by Zumrotin K. Soesilo, executive director of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), who labeled it a setback in dealing with the city's traffic problems.

"Why change it into a system in which people have to pay Rp 5,000 to Rp 8,000 or whatever the price will be? It will certainly place a greater burden on the public."

She said the municipality should not forget the objectives behind the three-in-one policy.

"The ultimate goal is to reduce traffic congestion, not to look for more money or to gather funds through the implementation of some policy."

Zumrotin gave her support to the ongoing enforcement of the three-in-one system.

"The system has been up and running for quite some time now. I believe if there are obstacles -- such as jockeys who take advantage of the system -- the municipality could create some mechanisms to abolish the problem."

She said it was important to ensure the existing system worked well.

"Don't divert attention away from the main aim of reducing traffic jams, by applying a new system that may lead to other 'manipulative action'."

And the three-in-one areas are not toll roads, she added.

"So how can people have to pay to enter public roads?" (edt/ind)