Life much harder now for 'bajaj' drivers

After transporting Jakartans for nearly 30 years, the days of bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicles) are numbered. The city administration will phase out the Indian-made bajaj in favor of locally made kancil (four-wheeled motorized vehicles). The Jakarta Post's Urip Hudiono has observed the problems faced by bajaj drivers. This is the second of six articles.

Dozens of bajaj drivers were waiting for passengers in front of Mayestik market in South Jakarta. A woman, who was carrying groceries, approached one of them, asking him to take her to nearby Kebayoran Lama.

The two bargained, finally agreeing upon a fare of Rp 7,000 (78 U.S. cents), up from her offer of Rp 5,000 and lower than the driver's of Rp 10,000. As it departed for Kebayoran Lama, the orange bajaj spewed out thick black fumes.

"The fare was reasonable, although other passengers might drive a harder bargain," commented Dasuki, a driver. "Even if we get less than we ask for, it's better than losing passengers."

Times are tough for bajaj drivers, who struggle every day to get enough passengers. The increasing number of ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers and the expanding area covered by public minivans only make things worse.

Dasuki said bajaj drivers pay between Rp 25,000 and Rp 30,000 to rent a bajaj for half a day from the owner. Most drivers share one bajaj between two -- one driver works from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., the other from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"I have to pay Rp 26,000 for half a day, excluding the cost of gasoline and oil," he said.

Beside that, bajaj drivers at Mayestik have agreed to pay a daily parking fee of Rp 1,000, double the official fee of Rp 500.

"We have agreed to give the parking attendant extra," Dasuki said.

At the end of the day, Dasuki only manages to take home Rp 14,000, at the most. His daily income has decreased from two years ago, when it was around Rp 23,000.

Dasuki, who has been a bajaj driver since 1986, said he could make extra money fixing bajaj when they broke down.

The administration plans to gradually replace around 14,000 bajaj in the city with locally assembled kancil.

Although some residents support the plan, arguing that kancil are more environmentally friendly than bajaj -- which have been operating in the city since 1975 -- many of them still rely upon the vehicle for short trips.

"Now, fewer passengers use bajaj from here (Mayestik) to as far as Ciputat or Ciledug, for example," said another driver Ramlan. "Most of them use bajaj only for short trips, like from here to Kebayoran Lama."

He pointed to ojek as the bajaj's main competitor.

"We don't mind competing against ojek, but many of the drivers are employees seeking extra money in their spare time," he said. "We, on the other hand, drive bajaj as our only source of income."

Ramlan suggested that the administration regulate ojek drivers, such as requiring that the motorcycles carry yellow police license plates, which would indicate that they were official public transportation. Also their operational areas should be limited, to avoid overlapping with bajaj, he said.

Ramlan said the replacement of bajaj with kancil must be done in a fair way.

"One kancil for one bajaj. If the city operates kancil without withdrawing bajaj, then the competition will be fiercer for us."

Responding to complaints that the bajaj have caused air and noise pollution in the city, Ramlan argued "That's just complaints from the rich."

"I've been driving bajaj for 15 years, still I have no health problems resulting from exhaust fumes."