'Mikrolet' drivers finally return to their routes

'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)