More holiday travelers opt for motorbikes

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.