Public campaign for busway needed
Public campaign for busway needed
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although busway systems have been developed successfully in many
cities of the world, the city administration has been advised not
to apply it without securing public support and making
comprehensive preparations.
Preparations include social aspects, such as a public campaign
to make sure people have adequate understanding of the new
policy, and technical aspects like developing bus shelters,
special lanes, traffic lights, traffic signs, and preparing
feeder routes.
"The system was able to be developed successfully in many
cities, because it was prepared very well. But I haven't seen the
same preparations here," said Azas Tigor Nainggolan, chairman of
Jakarta Residents's Forum (Fakta) last Saturday.
Tigor was among members of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) who visited Bogota in Colombia -- a city which has
successfully developed the bus rapid transit or BRT -- to take
part in a short course on transportation.
A similar comment came from another noted urban observer Marco
Kusumawijaya, who said that without public support any
development program introduced by the city administration, would
end in failure.
Marco also stressed the need for the city administration to
make sure that related officials have an in depth understanding
of the BRT concept so that they can give a comprehensive
explanation to the public.
"So far I've never heard a comprehensive concept conveyed
about the busway. What I have heard are only incomplete
explanations," he added. "If their explanations are seemingly
only concerned with restraints, like the three-in-one and license
plate-based restriction policies, people will be disappointed."
A number of world's cities which have developed busway
systems, include Bogota (Columbia), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Nagoya
(Japan), Taipei (Taiwan), Leeds (UK), Chicago and Honolulu
(U.S.), Ottawa and Vancouver (Canada), Adelaide and Brisbane
(Australia).
Sharing Marco's views, Tigor also stressed the need of public
approval for the city administration program which would affect a
large number of people in the city.
Tigor said if the project was implemented, it would
drastically change the habits and lifestyle of Jakartans.
"Just imagine, people who usually stop a bus anywhere they
like will be forced to go to bus shelters. And the people who
usually go to work in their own car will have to travel on public
buses," he added.
Therefore, a public campaign is very important to make the
people understand the project. To find out what the public wants,
he added, the city administration needs to hold a poll. If most
people say yes, the project could be continued.
But Governor Sutiyoso said previously that polling was not
necessary as he asserted that the majority of Jakarta people
accepted the busway project.
"I believe the majority of Jakarta people will accept the
project as it is designed for them, if there are people who
oppose the project, it must be those who use private cars,"
Sutiyoso said.
Marco, however, expressed skepticism that Jakartans would
support the city administration's plan to develop the BRT project
which is expected to be launched later this year.
First, he said he was not sure that the city administration
had a comprehensive plan to tackle transportation problems in the
city. Second, many development projects in the city have ended in
failure due to lack of preparation.
And third, the credibility of the city administration is very
low due to rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), with
the result that many projects are not implemented professionally.
Originally, the city administration planned to launch the BRT
project, known as Trans Jakarta, late last year. But it was
delayed as Governor Sutiyoso realized that it needed further
preparation.
Sutiyoso stressed that Trans Jakarta will be launched later
this year, but many observers have expressed pessimism as his
administration has to date not outlined a clear and thorough
concept of the busway system.