`No trial-and-error traffic policy, please'

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Acute transportation problems in the city can only be resolved by means of a well-planned, comprehensive transportation system, implemented consistently, say transportation observers.

They also say that serious traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours in many parts of the city, are the result of trial-and-error policies frequently introduced by the city administration.

"If the leaders at the city administration want to resolve the transportation problem comprehensively, they should no longer adopt a trial-and-error approach," Tulus Abadi, from the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Tulus was asked to comment on the plan of the city administration to extend the restricted traffic zone, three-in- one policy, to the main corridor of the busway project, along roads from Blok M, South Jakarta, to Kota, Central Jakarta.

Tulus also queried why the city administration wished to expand the policy from its current 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to another period in the evening. The policy is, at present, far from effective, as many motorists use the services of joki, or people who offer themselves as passengers for a small tip of about Rp 2,000.

Transportation analyst from the University of Indonesia (UI) Alan Marino questioned the readiness of the city administration to provide adequate public transportation for those wishing to leave their car at home, following implementation of the busway system.

The plan to extend the time for the three-in-one policy was revealed on Wednesday by assistant to the city secretary for development affairs Irzal Djamal. A restriction would be imposed by limiting cars according to their license plate numbers.

It is one aspect of the proposed busway project, already delayed several times, and is expected to begin sometime this year, in an attempt to reduce traffic congestion on major roads such as Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin.

"If you were to ask me about the plan to extend the three-in- one rule, I would say that I would agree with it. However, is the busway project really ready to assume the function of cars that will be left at home?" Alan asked the Post.

Both Alan and Tulus said that comprehensive studies should be carried out by the city administration before any transportation policy came into effect, as otherwise it would only add to traffic problems here.

They expressed no objection to the busway system on condition that the project was adequately prepared, for, in many cities in the world, such a system was able to resolve traffic problems.

But Tulus said he remained to be convinced about the seriousness of the city administration, particularly the officials in charge of the project, who treated it as another trial-and-error attempt that was not properly prepared.

Tulus suspected that many officials perceived the project as a source of additional income, instead of as a way of addressing the city's transportation problems.

The city administration planned to operate 60 buses along a 12.5-kilometer special busway track, from Blok M to Kota, late last year, but the launch was delayed due to inadequate preparation.

Early this year, the tryout was implemented with two buses traveling along the lanes, without passengers. Currently, no information is available about when the project will become fully operational.