Mikrolet drivers protest closed-door regulations

Mikrolet drivers protest closed-door regulations

JAKARTA (JP): Many of the 12-seat Mikrolet minibuses are
protesting the Jakarta chapter Land Transport Owners'
Organization (Organda) decision requiring them to install a
special door "handle" at one establishment.

The installation of the additional lever-like handle enables
the drivers to open and close the doors without having to leave
the driver's seat.

"It's not fair because the price set by the cooperative is
higher compared to other places," said Syamsurizal, a driver of
Mikrolet plying the Senen-Kampung Melayu route told The Jakarta
Post yesterday.

He added that the Budiluhur cooperative, a place appointed by
Organda for Mikrolet to install the additional apparatus, set the
price at Rp 75,000 (US$34.9) per car, Rp 45,000 higher than the
price at other places.

Anto, a driver of a Mikrolet plying the Kampung Melayu-Pasar
Minggu route, concurred with Syamsurizal about the matter saying
that minibus drivers will go on strike again if Organda does not
review the policy.

The closed-door policy as dictated by the 1992 Traffic Law
obliges the crew of public transit vehicles throughout the
capital city, including the 12-seat minibuses, to close their
doors while their vehicles are in motion.

All public transport companies abided by the rule, except
owners and drivers of minibuses, such as KWK, Mikrolet, and
Angkutan Perkotaan, whose crews went on strike in protest of the
implementation of the regulation early this year.

The drivers of the minibuses argued they could not afford
conductors solely for opening and closing the doors.

Police have given owners of public transit vehicles, including
the 12-seat minibuses, until early next year to fully comply with
the closed-door policy after they postponed the implementation of
the policy in May in the wake of protests from minibus drivers.

Police said that the closed-door policy was aimed at improved
passenger safety, not to impose a burden on the owners and
drivers of minibuses.

Syamsuddin, another Mikrolet driver, suspects that there is
something behind Organda's policy. "Maybe some people want to
make money for their own interests," he said. (yns)