Public Transportation Not Yet a Choice: The Main Reasons
JAKARTA – Interest among the public in switching to public transportation in Indonesia’s major cities remains relatively low. Dependence on private vehicles remains high, even though several cities like Jakarta already have relatively developed public transport systems.
Urban Mobility Manager at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), Mizandaru Wicaksono, stated that the use of private vehicles still dominates public mobility.
“If we look at it now, major cities in Indonesia are still using private vehicles; this is actually quite a significant issue. Even Jakarta, which has fairly good transportation, still has 78 percent of people using private vehicles. So it’s still very high,” said Mizan, when met in Central Jakarta recently.
Based on a survey conducted by ITDP in Jakarta in 2023 on Jabodetabek commuters, with a total of 511 non-public transport users and 501 users as respondents, several main reasons were revealed that make the public reluctant to switch from private vehicles to public transport.
From the perspective of non-public transport users, comfort factors are the biggest obstacle with 37.6 percent. Followed by longer travel times (20.1 percent), services considered less reliable (13.9 percent), and costs deemed more expensive (9.7 percent).
In addition, the need for transfers or mode changes also becomes a constraint (8 percent), followed by access considered unsafe and uncomfortable (6 percent), and other reasons (4.8 percent).
Meanwhile, from the perspective of public transport users, the main issues still revolve around comfort (23 percent) and service reliability (22.9 percent). Then the need for transfers (20.2 percent), security factors (10.4 percent), as well as difficult access to and from stations (8.8 percent).
What is meant by uncomfortable includes crowded vehicle conditions, hot temperatures, and minimal seating facilities. Meanwhile, unreliability relates to uncertain schedules, both arrival times and travel duration.
From the security side, concerns about criminal acts are still a consideration for some of the public. Whereas difficult access includes long distances to stops or stations, as well as inadequate pedestrian facilities like sidewalks and crossings.
These findings indicate that improving the quality of public transport services is not just about adding fleets, but also concerns comfort, integration, and ease of access for the public.