More holiday travelers opt for motorbikes

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Higher fuel prices have not discouraged people from traveling to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with loved ones -- even if it means making the entire trip on a motorcycle to cut down on fuel costs.

Several holidaymakers from Jakarta arrived in Semarang on Saturday, having made the entire trip by motorcycle. And traveling by two wheels did not stop parents from taking along their children, squeezing them in among the baggage and telling them to hold on.

"This is the first time I went home for Idul Fitri by motorcycle. I just wanted to know how it would be and also to save money," said Hasto in Semarang.

He said that if he took all four members of his family home by car, it would cost at least Rp 1,000,000 (US$100) for a one-way trip, but with a motorcycle it only cost Rp 50,000.

"I took my son along and he was very happy, singing all the way and telling me to keep going whenever I took a break. He did not understand that I was tired," said Hasto, who lives and works in Karawang, West Java.

For the motorcycle trip, Hasto left his four-year-old daughter with his sister before leaving with his son, Joni, and his wife, Anik.

"It is a tiring trip. This is our first experience. I do not know what we will do on the way back," Anik said.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of travelers from Jakarta had reached Semarang, arriving on trains, in private cars and on motorcycles.

While those arriving by car loaded their belongings in the trunks and on top of their vehicles, those traveling by motorcycle were forced to stash their bags wherever they could find space, making for often crowded conditions.

Another holiday traveler, Harjono, 45, who works in Jakarta, was returning by himself to his home in Delangu city.

"My family is in Delanggu. This is my fifth trip by motorcycle. It is a lot cheaper than taking an air-conditioned bus. If I took the bus, I would have to spend Rp 260,000 while with the motorcycle it only costs about Rp 70,000," he said.

Harjono said the trick to surviving the long trip was keeping happy thoughts. "I keep thinking that I will be seeing my wife and two children soon."

The busy road to Bogor, Puncak and Cianjur is also a good indication that more people are traveling home for Idul Fitri by motorcycle this year. The Bogor Police said that since Sunday morning, an average of 200 motorcycles passed along the road every 30 minutes.

A similar trend was seen on the route to Ciawi as people headed to Bandung and West Java cities like Tasikmalaya and Banjar.

The annual exodus was marred by a fatal traffic accident on Sunday morning along the north-coast road in the West Java town of Cirebon, killing five people and injuring six others.

Majalengka Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Iis Raesih said the accident happened when a Bahagia Iklas passenger bus hit a Carry minivan and a minibus near Sindangwasa village, Palasah district, Majalengka regency.

"The bus' backup driver fled the scene while the driver has been detained for questioning," Iis said.