`Private cars the main cause of traffic jam'

Plans by the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) to import 3,000 used buses from Japan and Australia have been criticized by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), which questioned the quality and roadworthiness of the buses. Starting in April, about 150 used buses a month will begin arriving to give the city a total fleet of about 6,000 buses. The Jakarta Post asked a number of people their thoughts on the issue.

Mukhlis, 40, owns a motorcycle workshop in Warung Buncit, South Jakarta. He lives nearby with his wife and three children:

I think the plan is a good one and should be implemented soon. Generally speaking, the condition of our public buses is poor.

It would be better if Organda sold all the old buses that are not roadworthy to other regions and get them out of the city. The bus operators would then have more money to buy new buses and cover their maintenance costs.

I don't think public buses should be blamed for traffic congestion in the city. I reckon that private cars are the main cause of traffic because most rich people are greedy and have more than one car per family.

My nephew has eight cars at home. So you can imagine how private cars congest the city's streets.

I would not worry that the imported buses will make traffic worse. But, of course, public transportation drivers should be more disciplined to help improve traffic.

I'm sure the imported second-hand buses would still be in good condition because the maintenance of buses in foreign countries is far better than in our own country. So I don't think it would matter that the buses already operated for 10 years in their original countries.

Tofik, 19, sings for money on public buses. He lives in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, with his family:

I don't know if I agree with the idea or not. I'm just an uneducated person who dropped out of elementary school.

But, to be honest, I would be happy if there were more buses operating here. That would mean that I would have more opportunities to sing on those buses and, of course, earn more money.

However, I wonder if the city administration is aware that the buses we already have cause traffic jams every day. I can't imagine what would happen with the traffic if more buses operated in the city.

Anyway, I just hope that lots of passengers will remain willing to give me money, regardless of the traffic jams.

Heru, 28, sells newspapers aboard public buses traveling between Grogol, West Jakarta, and Kampung Rambutan, East Jakarta. He lives in Parung, West Java:

As a poor man, I agree Organda's plan to import used buses from foreign countries.

At least it would improve traffic in the city. I worry about the old, overcrowded buses traveling around the city every day in the traffic. Almost none of the public buses are roadworthy and they pollute.

I'm of the opinion that old public buses should be moved to the outer areas of Jakarta. Many commuters now live on the outskirts of the city, where there is a lack of public transportation. So why doesn't the government move the old public buses to those areas which need public transportation? Otherwise, traffic in the city will just get worse.

Then the imported buses would replace the old public buses. I'm sure most commuters would be happier riding on the newer buses.

Personally, I welcome the plan to add more public buses to the city, because it will give me more of a chance to sell my goods and make more money.

-- Leo Wahyudi S