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.