Ritonga says curbs on vehicles not possible

Ritonga says curbs on vehicles not possible

JAKARTA (JP): City Council Chairman M.H. Ritonga commented on
Tuesday that the city police's call to restrict the growing
number of vehicles in the city is impossible.

"I think it is impossible to limit the number of vehicles at
the moment. Just look at the existing public transportation means
now, are they ready to accommodate all the passengers?" Ritonga
asked.

However, Deputy City Police Chief Brig. Gen. Hamami Nata said
on Monday that it is time now to limit the number of vehicles in
the city to help solve traffic jams.

"Traffic problems are not exclusively the job of the police.
We are all involved in how to solve them. Therefore it is time
now that the City Council start seeking the best way to curb
vehicle growth," Hamami said.

Criticizing Hamami's idea, Ritonga said: "Many efforts have
been made by the city administration to reduce traffic through
the introduction of a number of regulations, including the three-
in-one traffic policy and a progressive car tax system."

The most important thing here is how to make people follow the
regulation, not violate it, he said.

The three-in-one traffic policy, which has been applied to
such major roads as Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin to discourage
the use of private cars over the last few years, has largely been
ineffective. Besides shifting traffic to other smaller roads, the
policy has caused a mushrooming in the number of "three-in-one
kids" who, for a minute fee, offer to ride with motorists
traveling with fewer than three passengers.

Sahala P. Sinaga, vice chairman of the City Council's
Indonesia Democratic Party faction, supported Ritonga's remarks.
"It is not relevant for the City Council to talk about the
limitation of automobiles in the city," Sahala said.

"Limiting the number of vehicles is the task of the central
government through regulation. Regional regulation alone is not
strong enough to solve the matter," he said.

"The police have to be clear about what they mean with the
limitation. Is it the limitation over the production of cars or
just the number in city?" he asked.

"If they want to limit the number of private cars, we
completely agree with them because the traffic jams are caused
mainly by the many private cars operating in the city. But we
should take a close look at this matter to see whether it is
really possible," Sinaga said.

The number of vehicles in Jakarta grows by 14 percent
annually. By comparison the growth of road expansion reaches only
1.2 percent per annum.

Sinaga said that the public transportation means available in
the city at present are mostly still in poor condition.

"At this time, it is difficult to urge owners of private cars
to rely on busses due to their poor service. Moreover, the bus
owners cannot guarantee the safety and comfort of their
customers," he said.

He also added that the city administration's plan to construct
a subway system is one way of solving the traffic problem.

Development of the subway system will start late next year and
is expected to be completed by the year 2000. (31)