'Mikrolet' drivers finally return to their routes

JAKARTA (JP): Many drivers of mikrolet transit vans returned to work yesterday after the transportation authority caved in to some of their demands.

But thousands of people remained stranded in areas where the drivers' strike, which began early this month protesting overlicensing and poor road conditions, continued.

The strikes affected at least three mikrolet routes: S106 between Lebak Bulus and Parung, M19 between Kranji and Cililitan, and M26 between Bekasi and Kampung Melayu.

Services resumed on D14 between Pamulang and Ciputat, D7 plying the Ciputat-Muncul-Serpong route, D11 plying the Prumpung- Muncul-Ciputat route, and D13 between Reny Jaya and Ciputat.

For many people, the strike yesterday meant a longer, more costly journey to their destination.

Passengers in Lebak Bulus intending to go to Parung were forced to take a bus to Ciputat first, before finding a connecting mikrolet.

Rizal, a senior high school student, said he had to pay Rp 600, double the usual amount, to go home in Pondok Cabe, in the absence of S106 services.

Bayu, an elementary student, tried to hitch his way home. He said he had spent too much of his allowance money these past few days because of the strikes.

"I spent Rp 4,000 for an ojek (motorcycle taxi) yesterday," he said. Bayu was returning home after taking part in a Koran recital course organized by his school during the holiday.

The worst of times also brought the best among fellow motorists. On Monday night, private motorists were seen giving rides to stranded passengers in affected areas.

Some charged a small fee though.

Military trucks were also deployed to help passengers get to their destinations.

The decision to call off the strikes among drivers of D14, D7, D11 and D13 routes came after one of their representatives met with officials of the Tangerang Land Transportation Agency on Monday night.

Kisworo, the representative, told fellow drivers that the agency had agreed to freeze the new licensing of mikrolet on four routes and to postpone indefinitely its plan to increase the fee charged to drivers for the privilege of using the bus terminal.

The government had earlier planned to increase the levy from Rp 100 for each stop at a terminal, to Rp 800 for the entire day.

Drivers said that given traffic congestion, typically they could only make five round trips during a shift. Most mikrolet operate around the clock with one van rotated among three drivers.

The proposed increase, drivers said, was too steep, especially at a time when earnings were declining because routes had already been saturated by too many mikrolet.

Drivers pointed out that the 11-kilometer route between Ciputan and Muncul was served by 224 mikrolet.

They said they had a hard time getting enough passengers.

"Income has dropped from Rp 5,000 a day to Rp 3,000," one driver said.

During the meeting on Monday, the Tangerang agency asked that drivers form an association to improve communication with authorities.

Kisworo said drivers had already formed an association five months ago, which even included drivers who were not officially registered.

The agency proposed that the Rp 800 fee it charged each driver be returned to the association, Kisworo said. (jun/anr)