Open doors to put buses out of circulation

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)