Thousands of Motorcyclists Choose Night Routes to Avoid Extreme Weather and Traffic Congestion
The desire to meet parents and siblings on Eid morning is a longing that builds during days spent away from home. Visiting extended family and childhood friends represents an infinite yearning.
Despite sometimes having to navigate narrow lanes to the ends of villages, cross rivers, traverse rice fields, and climb hillsides, this is not a barrier to sharing joy.
It is therefore not an exaggeration to say that returning to one’s hometown as Eid approaches is a pilgrimage of love and the pursuit of reunion. This is why thousands of people undertake journeys through cold nights or across scorching heat in extreme weather.
Indeed, the National Route from Banda Aceh to Medan, for example, has been crowded in recent days since Sunday (15/3), with thousands of motorcyclists returning to their hometowns where they were born.
These are students from various universities and workers who have been studying and earning livelihoods in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province. From approximately 50,000 students and tens of thousands of civil servants and private employees, they are now dispersed across various regions via the National Route Banda Aceh-Medan and the Banda Aceh-South West Coast route.
To avoid the intense heat currently gripping the Veranda of Mecca, many depart at night after evening prayers, approaching dawn prayers, or after dawn prayers. The goal is to avoid dehydration from fluid loss during the heat of Ramadan.
“I departed after dawn prayers at my rented accommodation and headed home straight away. Travelling in the early morning is more comfortable. The atmosphere is still fresh, the weather is cool, and traffic is not yet congested. We can enjoy the natural beauty of the Saree Highland area and the Pocut Meurah Intan Grand Forest Park in the Seulawah Mountains,” said Farida Hanum, a fourth-semester student of the Faculty of Education at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, from Gatot, Pidie, on Monday (16/3).
From observations, thousands of motorcyclists from Banda Aceh—generally students and traders—are choosing to travel at night. In addition to avoiding the intense heat currently affecting Aceh, they also prevent traffic congestion after afternoon through the breaking of the fast period.
Several traffic congestion hotspots on the National Route Banda Aceh-Medan include the Pasar Lambaro area in Indrapuri (Aceh Besar District), Pasar Grong-Grong, Caleue, and Beureunuen (Pidie District), as well as Lueng Putu, Meureudu, and Ulee Glee (Pidie Jaya District). Further congestion occurs at Pasar Bireuen, Matang Geulumpang Dua, Kuta Blang, and Geureugok (Bireuen District), Krueng Mane, Keureungkueh, Geudong, and Lhok Sukon (North Aceh), Idi, Peureulak (East Aceh), and Langsa (Langsa City).
“We departed from Banda Aceh around 04.00 WIB. We had our dawn meal along the route in the Saree area, Aceh Besar. Our target is to arrive home before evening,” said Muslim, a resident from Blang Ara Village, Paya Bakong District, North Aceh District, encountered by observers whilst resting briefly at Baitul Huda Mosque, Blang Malu, Pidie District, on Monday after dawn prayers.
Departing late at night or after dawn prayers has become the choice of motorcyclists from Banda Aceh, not only to avoid intense heat and traffic congestion caused by minibuses and freight trucks. They also want to arrive home faster and avoid being on the road late at night.
Especially for travellers on long journeys such as to Langsa (411 km), Aceh Tamiang (471 km), and Medan, North Sumatra Province (575 km)—approximately 12-14 hours of motorcycle travel. With early morning departures, they have the opportunity to rest and recover from travel fatigue.
Even if rain falls, they must stop and wait for it to pass. “I stopped briefly at Pulo Pisang Petrol Station in Pidie yesterday and rested during noon prayers in Bireue. Around 14.00 WIB, I had already arrived home,” said Safitra Qalbi, a fourth-semester student of the Faculty of Law at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, who travelled 7 hours to her village of Jamur Ujung, Wih Pesam District, Bener Meriah District.
To relieve fatigue, motorcyclists on the Banda Aceh-Medan route rest at various locations along the road at places deemed safe, such as mosques, prayer rooms, community buildings, petrol stations, and roadside shelters.
Similar patterns occur on the sea crossing routes between mainland Aceh and Simeulue Island, Singkil to Banyak Island, and Banda Aceh to Sabang.