The busway and tinted windows

The busway and tinted windows

Seen from the bus riders' point of view, busway project is a
great idea. It is the only mean of transportation that can take
them from Blok-M to Kota, and vice versa, without having to be
caught in traffic. Even for some who cannot get a seat during the
ride it is still pretty comfortable for them to be on the air-con
bus that runs along the traffic-free corridor.

Should there be any complaints from them, it is only about the
hand grippers that use straps instead of permanently stuck to the
pole (that makes them move back and forth), and the absence of
lower hand gripper for not-so-tall people. Nevertheless, this bus
is definitely a much more improved ride.

However, people who have to take their car using the same road
along the busway might feel the other way around. They have to
face a worse-than-before traffic congestion during the non 3-in-
1 hours, and some must think of ways to get through the 3-in-1
zone.

One significant way to encourage these groups of people to
take the bus, which is the aim of the project, is to keep a
strict maintenance on the service. This includes the cleanliness
of the bus and the maintenance of the AC, automatic doors, hand
grippers, and seats. Also, the driver/conductor must limit the
number of people getting on the bus, as too-full bus will not be
comfortable for everyone riding.

The shelters must also be kept clean and the ticket machines
maintained. As an addition, to avoid people scrambling into the
bus, officials should consider putting dividers at the shelters
leading to the door to help people queue up getting on the Trans
Jakarta.

As for people who really must take their own cars, there is no
question that they must absolutely obey the 3-in-1 regulation.
And instead of changing the opacity of their tinted windows, they
can help the police checking the cars by simply rolling down the
windows and slowing down the speed when entering the 3-in-1 zone
and whenever passing spots where police officers stand by
guarding.

RITA OCTAVIANY MURNANE
Jakarta