Minivans, vendors main cause of traffic

Minivans, vendors main cause of traffic

BOGOR (JP): Thousands of public transportation minivans
(angkot) and street vendors are the main cause of traffic
congestions in the town as they crowd the roads and sidewalks.

There are only 2,422 minivans registered at the local Land
Transportation Agency (DLLAJ), but in fact there are about 10,000
angkot operating in the town, according to the agency's head of
the traffic unit, Ahmad Syarief.

He said that many of them were registered at DLLAJ office in
the municipalities outside Bogor's center, but he also
acknowledges that only "a few" roam the town center without a
license.

In an effort to manage traffic congestion, Ahmad said the
agency has stopped issuing operation license to new angkot
operators.

He said that widening the town's road is not an option as it
has reached its limits.

Angkot stations at Jl. Warung Bambu, Jl. Siliwangi, Jl.
Veteran, Jl. Mayor Oking, Jl. Kapten Muslihat, Jl. Nyi Raja
Permas, Jl. Dewi Sartika and the Pomad intersection are the most
congested, apart from the fact that sidewalks on these roads are
used as trading venues by street vendors.

Another factor attributing to the town's chronic traffic jams
is the undisciplined behavior of the angkot drivers who stop
anywhere regardless of street signs, to pick up and unload their
passengers, Ahmad said.

Also pedestrians who choose not to use the pedestrian bridge
when crossing the road is also another factor contributing to the
Bogor traffic problem.

"Five people crossing the road could cause a 100-meter traffic
jam," Ahmad remarked.

He said that the authorities plan to build a new terminal on a
2-hectare plot of land on the town's outskirts, in Bubulak
village, West Bogor.

Fifty-year-old resident Ahmad Kences said one could loose
one's life because of berserk angkot drivers.

"One car could be surrounded by about seven angkot who are
driven by reckless drivers, if you cross the street without
watching out for them, it could cost you your life," Kences told
the Post.

He said that angkot started to swamp the town about 10 years
ago.

"We used to take becak (three-wheel pedicab) or we could walk
on foot. It was so comfortable, we were not afraid of crossing
the road because motorists respected pedestrians and cars did not
travel at high speed."(21/06)