Private cars banned in Puncak

Private cars banned in Puncak

From Pikiran Rakyat

The Puncak tourist route from Ciawi, Bogor, until Cipanas in the Cianjur district, is constantly jammed, and not just before or after the Lebaran holidays. It happens every weekend.

Every Saturday or Sunday at dusk, the road from Ciawi to Puncak is barred from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. by the Bogor traffic police. This measure was taken to clear the road for homebound Jakartans, descending after a weekend in the mountains.

The step does not allow traffic from Ciawi/Jakarta to enter Puncak, and traffic from this direction has to go through Sukabumi. The same applies to traffic from Cianjur to Puncak/Jakarta.

In my opinion, this is a discriminating measure, since the Puncak or Cipanas resorts are mostly enjoyed by Jakartans. They are the ones who jam the road from Ciawi to Cipanas every week. While some road users, like us, are deprived of a Puncak tour because of this rule.

Puncak and Cipanas passersby are even not permitted to enter the vicinity despite the fact that they are not the cause of the problem.

I would like to suggest that to reduce the volume of Puncak/Cipanas bound vehicles from Jakarta at dusk, or, in the evenings, a total ban should be drafted, except for Bandung or Cianjur travelers at certain times.

Thus, on weekends, Jakartans traveling to Bandung would be admitted entrance from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Now, homebound travelers from Puncak/Cipanas to Jakarta, have to wait until the traffic congestion eases off, at midnight or dawn.

If people insist on returning to Jakarta in the busy hours, let them jam the road, but do not bar vehicles heading for Puncak/Cipanas from Ciawi.

NATADIPRAJA

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