Motorists doubt stickers will ease congestion

JAKARTA (JP): Motorists said yesterday they were not against the plan to introduce monthly stickers for entering three-in-one areas during rush hours, but were not sure the scheme would help ease traffic congestion in the city.

They said spending between Rp 40,000 (US$16.50) and Rp 50,000 (US20.80) for car stickers to enter the areas would remove the need for the minimum three passengers per car during rush hours, and would be better than paying joki (people earning money by being the third passenger in restricted areas), that cost them about Rp 2,000 a day.

Motorists use joki to meet the need for the minimum three-in- one rule that applies from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Jendral Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto.

"I spend more than that for joki every month," said Pamungkas, a finance manager.

Other motorists said the effort to ease traffic would be unsuccessful because most motorists would not mind paying the price.

They said it would mean the number of vehicles passing the three main thoroughfares would not be reduced.

They suggested the city administration sell the stickers through banks.

"I don't mind paying as long as the money is used properly. And stickers should be sold through banks" Pratikto, an accountant, said.

"The authorities should not involve the police or city-owned Bank DKI in this business," Pamungkas said.

Soeryo Soedibyo, another motorist, however, opposed the new scheme. He said: "The government only wants to get money from us. The scheme will fail to reduce traffic jams."

To solve the traffic problem, many people interviewed by The Jakarta Post said Saturday that the city administration has to find a solution, like providing adequate transportation and limiting the number of cars in Jakarta to meet the road capacity.

Traffic disruption

Although motorists use joki everyday, they said they did not really like doing it because picking them up also disrupted traffic.

"It is also dangerous because it can cause accidents. Worse still, if a joki is caught by police he will be beaten," Maman, an entrepreneur, said.

Most people believe that paying a joki is not a good practice. "It looks like we're helping them but we're not," Maman added.

Some joki said yesterday they were ready to lose their jobs. Mamat, a joki on Jl. Radio Dalam in South Jakarta, said he had heard about the plan last year, and was sad because he would lose part of his income.

His friend Dodi Irwanto did not know about the plan because he was a newcomer in the traffic business.

Mamat, who works from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., earns up to Rp 10,000 daily from five rides. "I have two regular customers," he said.

Some motorists said they have to be careful with the boys because some had been caught by police after stealing mobile phones from motorists.

Mamat and Dodi, students of an afternoon junior high school in Kebayoran Lama, go by bus to Radio Dalam, where they wait for their customers everyday.

Mamat said he used the money to finance his other business: selling newspapers late in the afternoon after school hours. (13)