'Taxi drivers will face fiercer competition'

Several factors are blamed for the horrendous traffic jams in the city: the increasing number of private vehicles, the launch of busway and the enforcement of the three-in-one traffic policy. Despite resident's complaints, the city administration still has a plan to launch a new service using Toyota Kijang vans. The Jakarta Post asked some people what they thought of the plan.

Herman, 30, works for an education foundation on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta. He lives in Cengkareng, West Jakarta:

I welcome the city's plan to run Kijang taxis. I think having such taxis will help small-scale businessmen transport their products... maybe they don't own cars.

It's also good for big families who don't have cars to hire a Kijang taxi. At least the van can carry eight passengers compared to a regular taxi, which has a maximum capacity of only four.

I believe the Kijang taxis will not take business away from existing taxis because the target market is different.

Yetti, 35, is a lecturer at a private university in Jakarta. She lives in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta:

It's better for the city administration to improve the existing public transportation than make another controversial policy like running Kijang taxis.

I often heard from taxi drivers that it has been difficult to find passengers. By running more taxis, the drivers will surely face fiercer competition.

I really hope the administration will think comprehensively about solving transportation problems in Jakarta.

They must realize that public transport drivers are often reckless because they face fierce competition. This situation is caused by the administration, which allows too many vehicles to operate.

-- The Jakarta Post