The city administration unveiled a plan last week to extend the

The city administration unveiled a plan last week to extend the
three-in-one restricted zones in a bid to alleviate traffic in
the downtown core. However, the public believes that this will
not be enough to solve the acute transportation problem,
especially the traffic jams, which have long been a nightmare for
motorists. Several motorists told The Jakarta Post that improving
public transportation was more important.

Diah Massardi, 40, is the director of an advertising agency in
Blok M, South Jakarta. She lives in Bekasi with her husband and
three children:

I think the three-in-one traffic rule is meaningless. It has
never helped reduce traffic congestion in the city.

There are so many teenagers who offer themselves to motorists
needing three passengers to enter the restricted zone, even at
the toll road gate. It would also be useless to arrest them,
because so many motorists pick them up from the side of the road.

These three-in-one kids are making a fool out of the police
and city administration. More of them operate in the restricted
zones and a lot of motorists use their services.

It would be useless to impose any kind of regulation as long
as the public is lacking in awareness, as is the case of the
traffic rule here.

I guess the three-in-one traffic regulation just looks good on
paper as it is not effective at all.

What's worse is that we comply with the rule because there are
some police officers on duty. I always do, too, as my neighbor
who gets a ride with me usually gets out of the car hundreds of
meters after passing the police and I drive through the zone
safely even though there are only two of us left in the car. So,
what is the rule for?

I envy the traffic situation in Singapore, where everyone can
use public transportation safely and comfortably. I wish Jakarta
could be the same.

Raising public awareness, instilling a sense of discipline in
bus crews and improving public transportation should be the
ultimate priorities in trying to solve some of the city's traffic
problems.

I would certainly use the buses if I felt secure on them.
During the times I have used buses, I've had to wear casual
clothes out of fear of crime.

Tika Bisono, 42, is a training manager at a human resources
consultancy in Kuningan, South Jakarta. She lives in Depok, West
Java, with her husband and three children:

The three-in-one traffic rule would be effective if three-in-
one kids were arrested and public transportation was improved.

In fact, the implementation of the rule has been to no avail
as no one is disciplined. Besides, the restricted zones do not
help reduce traffic congestion as many other alternative routes
get backed up during the rush hour.

The lack of a safe public transportation system has aggravated
the traffic problem as many people prefer to use their cars.

Worse, the buses are all in very poor condition and far from
being called roadworthy. How can well-groomed office employees
humiliate themselves by taking these shabby buses?

I think public policies do not mean anything because of the
corrupt transportation owners and high-ranking officials, the
poor mentality of law enforcers and undisciplined motorists.

All regulations might become applicable if public
transportation was brought up to an acceptable standard.
Otherwise, we will continue to be uncomfortable living in the
city.

Sometimes I take an ojek (motorcycle taxi) as it's relatively
safer than public buses and it's faster.

Wijaya, 31, is an employee at a non-governmental organization
on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, South Jakarta. He lives in Kampung
Ambon, East Jakarta, with his wife and daughter:

The three-in-one traffic rule does not work at all. Terrible
traffic jams continue to frustrate motorists in the city.

The problems can't be solved just by applying these kinds of
traffic regulations as it would be meaningless.

The main problem is that the amount of thoroughfares in the
city cannot accommodate the growing volume of vehicles. Worse
still, public transportation is so bad that not everyone wants to
use it.

If public transportation was comfortable and safe, people
would be willing to leave their cars at home and use it.

I prefer to go by taxi rather than take my car as it is so
tiring trying to get through traffic.

-- Leo Wahyudi S