Open doors to put buses out of circulation
JAKARTA (JP): Head of the City Traffic and Land Transportation Control Office, JP Sepang, vowed yesterday to impound any city bus whose crew defies the regulation requiring doors to be closed while the bus is in motion.
"As of Tuesday, we will not tolerate open doors on moving buses anymore, we will impound them for sure if their crews remain obstinate," he told journalists yesterday.
He said the new policy came to effect on May 1, a month later than the implementation of other regulations, such as those requiring all bus crews to wear uniforms. His agency has allowed two days of grace on the door ruling, but the policy ends today.
"In the meeting, we agreed to impose the regulations on April 1, but because of many complains from bus owners over this one, I agreed to delay it for another month," he said, referring to the meeting between the organization of bus owners (Organda) and his office.
When asked about the possibility of boycotts by bus owners, Sepang said he is not afraid of any retaliative act because there are still many bus companies waiting in line for operational permits.
Aip Sjarifudin, the head of the Organda, said the new policy will create more problems for bus crews because there is usually only one conductor on each bus, so it will be difficult for him to open and close the doors.
Aip complained that the new policy will only create a loophole enabling unscrupulous officials to extort even more money from bus crews. Bus crews have long had to set aside money to bribe officials and street thugs.
No punishment
City Police spokesman, Lt. Col. A Latief Rabar, said violators have faced no punishment during the first three days of the enforcement of the law from Sunday.
He explained that the police will conduct an in-depth study on the implementation of the law for three days before taking harsh measures against the violators as stipulated in the newly enforced Traffic Law.
"We're collecting data on problems during the first three days in a bid to encourage the public and the drivers to obey the law," Latief said.
The punitive measures will be applied particularly in the case of public transit vehicles plying the city's main thoroughfares overseen by the city police.
Violators will be ticketed when drivers leave the doors open while the bus is in motion.
Lt. Diana, who was in charge of traffic flow at the Ratu Plaza roundabout, South Jakarta, said he had instructed his subordinates to tolerate city buses which violate the regulation in the first days the ruling is in effect.
"It's impossible for us to reinforce the idea of adhering to the regulation in the minds of drivers in just one day. It takes time. So, if we take tough measures against them now, then we just make ourselves their enemy."
A policeman observing the Slipi intersection in West Jakarta took a similar stance, saying the police cannot just punish drivers without introducing the regulation and giving warnings first.
Mixed reactions
Crews of city buses gave mixed reactions to the municipal administration's policy requiring them to wear uniforms and close the doors of transit vehicles, which came into force on May 1.
A number of bus crews expressed reservations over the closed door policy, which they think will make it difficult to pick up and drop off passengers quickly.
"Well, other regulations we can observe, but not closing the doors," said a conductor of a No. 102 Koantas Bima bus plying the Tanah Abang-Cililitan route.
Jumhari, a conductor of a No. 203 state-owned PPD bus plying the Grogol-Rajawali route, joined the chorus, saying closing the bus doors is the most difficult requirement for him to meet.
He said he left the door open because other buses did so, adding that he would observe the new regulation as long as it is was fairly enforced.
"I'm ready to observe the new rules, but I'm afraid the enforcement measure is only temporary," he said.
A driver for the Masstrans bus company, however, said that he fully supports the new regulation, as it will force passengers to use bus stops, instead of waiting just anywhere along the streets, as well as make the bus crews behave in a more orderly manner.
"We have no problem as it is a rule in our company to close the doors," said the driver, who declined to be identified.
The driver, however, noted that he could understand if other bus drivers do not like such a regulation as it has become a habit for those drivers to leave their doors open.
"I hope the government and the bus companies give extensive training for the drivers to let them know the positive side of the regulation," he noted
Based on observation at the Jembatan Baru and Slipi intersections, both in West Jakarta, as well as at the Ratu Plaza roundabout, most city buses plying those areas, excluding the air conditioned PATAS ones, were traveling with their doors open yesterday.
S. Sinaga, driver of a Kopaja bus plying the Kota-Lebak Bulus route, said if passengers still wait for and get off the buses at unauthorized places, the problem will remain unresolved.
He welcomed the efforts of the traffic control office, but said that the new measures will not eliminate transportation problems unless the public is involved. (05/09/11/bsr)