Public transit remains a major problem

Public transit remains a major problem

By Yoko N. Sari and Hyginus Hardoyo

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta is facing increasingly complicated
headaches in public transportation, with problems ranging from
difficulties in improving the discipline of motorists, poor
management of bus companies, old, and bad conditions of buses, to
the debate on whether to choose an elevated railway or subway
system.

When the city imposed its new ticketing fine scale on Sept. 1,
which was much higher than the previous one, hundreds of drivers
of the 30-seat Metromini buses staged city-wide strikes,
paralyzing traffic and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The imposition of the new fine scale was aimed mainly at
improving discipline among motorists, especially drivers of
public transport vehicles.

Most of the strikers pointed out that the new fine scale,
which was set at between Rp 15,000 (US$7) and Rp 50,000,
depending on their offenses, was outside their ability to pay.
How could they pay the fines if their earnings only reached
between Rp 15,000 and Rp 25,000 per day each, they asked.

The strikers also caused other vehicles, including taxis and
other public buses, to halt. They were also seen forcing other
Metromini buses to stop, telling the passengers to get off.

During the strike hundreds of uniformed police and military
personnel were deployed to carry stranded passengers in police
vehicles as well as the metrominis which had been abandoned by
their drivers.

The strikers said they would return to work only if the
government lifted the hefty traffic fines.

However, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said
the government was consistent in enforcing the law, adding that
minibus drivers should recognize that the frequent, tragic
accidents caused by their reckless driving had left them with a
less than sterling reputation.

"National discipline is judged by traffic orderliness. If our
traffic is orderly, people will say we have good, national
discipline," commander of the Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung
said.

The city's public transport returned to normal after most
minibus drivers ended their three-day strike and went back to
work.

Due to the numerous old buses still operating in the city, the
municipal administration has ordered owners of buses and other
public transit vehicles to bring their fleets up to standard, to
improve service and facilitate traffic flow.

JP Sepang, chairman of the Land Transportation Agency, said
that bringing fleets up to standard is necessary to improve the
image of Jakarta as the capital of Indonesia.

"We have ordered all bus owners as well as other public
transit vehicles to pay more attention to the condition of their
fleets, including their cleanliness," he said.

Brig. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, deputy head of the city police, said
the public transit vehicles, totaling approximately 9,000 buses,
18,000 taxis and 6,000 minivans, transport at least 4.5 million
commuters daily.

Widodo underlined the importance of improving the management
of public vehicle companies to enable them to provide better
services.

He expressed concern over the poor management quality of
public transit companies which are established on a limited
liability basis and do not have their own fleets. Most of these
firms simply organize bus owners under a loose, umbrella-type
management.

Under such a structure, the companies do not have any
relationship with drivers who are hired by vehicle owners and
obliged to pay a daily rental fee, he said.

He said traffic problems in the capital have become
increasingly complicated because the increase in the number of
vehicles is not in line with the growth of the population.

"Discipline on the part of drivers is also still low. Most of
them speed recklessly and ignore existing regulations," he added.

According to data from the city's Land Transportation Agency,
most traffic violations were made by drivers of public transit
vehicles.

Most violations involved cutting short their routes to avoid
entering terminals. Bus drivers are often reluctant to use the
terminals because they are forced to wait in long lines to pick
up passengers.

Other violations include exceeding load capacity limits,
exceeding speed limits, deviating from designated routes and
exceeding the deadline for vehicle roadworthy examinations.

The most shocking accident happened in March when a Metromini
bus, packed with 45 commuters--far above the legal capacity of
30--plunged into a polluted river in Sunter, North Jakarta,
leaving 33 people dead.

The Metromini bus, serving the route between Senen and Semper,
was allegedly racing with other buses on Jl. Yos Sudarso towards
the Senen bus terminal.

The driver, who fled the scene immediately, had lost control
of his bus. He was believed to have escaped unhurt as he managed
to jump out of the bus as it plunged into the river.

"Most of the victims drowned because the bottom of the river
is covered in thick mud," the then spokesman for the City Police
Latief Rabar said. Apparently the mud hampered rescue efforts
because it complicated the extraction of the bus from the river.

In a bid to help ease the complicated problems of public
transportation, the city administration, in cooperation with
related institutions, is studying the possibility of building a
mass rapid transit (MRT) system.

However, it seems there is still a debate over its technology:
Whether to use an underground or elevated system.

Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages. The
underground system would not ruin the city scenery but is very
expensive, while the elevated one is cheaper but worsens the
view.

Haryanto said that a team has been set up to prepare proposals
for the construction of the MRT system. The proposals are
expected to be completed soon.

The team, led by Secretary General of the Ministry of
Transportation Muchtarudin Siregar, comprises of officials from
the transportation ministry, Jakarta administration, the Ministry
of Public Works, the National Development Planning Agency and the
Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology.

Haryanto said several consortiums from France, Canada, Japan,
the United States, Germany and Australia have expressed interest
in participating in the construction of the railway system.