Nobody relishes a ride on a city bus

Nobody relishes a ride on a city bus

Public transportation is one of the most important elements of a
big city like Jakarta. Many people, including students, depend on
public transportation to travel from one place to another.
Therefore, they spontaneously reacted upon learning of the city
administration's plan to increase fares.

Granita Ramadhani, 17, a student at the University of
Indonesia's School of Cultural Studies. Born in Jakarta, she grew
up in Bintaro, South Jakarta, and now lives in a rented room near
her campus in Depok.

Sexual harassment! That's what you get if you take public
transportation here. It happens not only to women, but to men as
well. A man touched my best friend's body one day. My friend is a
man, who happens to be cute. It happens even in broad daylight.

I think sexual harassment occurs because the vehicles are
overcrowded. Conductors and drivers insist on getting as many
passengers as they can even though the vehicles cannot
accommodate them all. No wonder many passengers have to stand up
during the trip. Some passengers harass others at that time.

I don't mind if the administration wants to increase fares,
but only under one condition: public transportation managements
must improve their services as well. I'm pessimistic that the
services will be improved because the managements always break
their promises every time the administration sets new fares.

Luthfi, 20, lives in Bogor, West Java. He is a student at the
University of Indonesia's School of Political and Social
Sciences.

My opinion about public transportation here? I have no other
answer but bad. Passengers get nothing but overcrowded buses and
compartments, sweat and intimidation.

Extortion is nothing new aboard public vehicles. I experienced
it once. You must be very careful if you decide to take public
transportation here.

In fact, I don't agree with the administration's plan to
sharply increase fares. It will only become more burdensome for
the common people, including students like me. I think a 10
percent increase would be enough to cover operational costs due
to the fuel price hike.

Wita Rismayanti, 23, a student at the University of
Indonesia's School of Cultural Studies. She has lived in Ciledug,
on the border between Tangerang and South Jakarta, since 1980.

I can mention several reasons why I consider all public
transportation here appalling. First, it's not safe. The drivers
are usually reckless and, of course, hoodlums are found on most
public vehicles.

The second is that public vehicles are not environmentally
friendly. The city administration obliges all public vehicles to
pass emission tests before running around the city. But the fact
is the opposite.

And of course, you can't expect to have a comfortable trip
regarding the poor condition of most public vehicles,
particularly regular buses.

I definitely don't agree to an increase in fares. It does not
equate with the services, and I can't imagine how low-income
people will cope as they have no other choice but to use public
transportation. -- JP