Taxi operations in Bandung

Taxi operations in Bandung

From Neraca

It is strange, but true. Taxis operating in the Bandung municipality have, since last year, become illegal public transportation. To be more explicit, Bandung cabbies prefer to ignore the presence of their taxi meters.

Passengers have to bargain beforehand about the fee before they are driven to their destination. Despite complaints filed by the public to the Directorate of Road Transportation and the police authorities, their complaints have gone unheeded.

Bandung citizens, used to coping with such situations, would come up with alternative ways of bargaining. They might bargain in the region of the fee of the proposed trip, if they are familiar with the route. It would be a different case with new arrivals, though.

In my case, I experienced something that was close to highway robbery on Nov. 12, and which calls for extreme caution on the part of strangers when dealing with Bandung cabbies.

When I left the bus at the Luwispanjang terminal and asked to be transported to Jl. Halimun, the cabbie demanded a fee of Rp 20,000-Rp 25,000. I bargained for a fee of Rp 10,000, which he turned down.

I was fortunate, however, to have found a cabbie who did not mind taking me for the official taxi meter fee. I was shocked when I discovered that the fee came to Rp 4,300, since Jl. Halimun proved to be a short distance away from the terminal.

Mr. mayor, I am pleading with you to follow up on complaints from the public.

FAJAR SUGIJANTO

Bandung, West Java