Traffic award
Traffic award
The Wahana Tata Nugraha award was given to, among other
cities, Bogor "for its achievements on the traffic front,
particularly in improving the residents' awareness in improving
traffic conditions." I don't know who measured the achievements,
or how, but the "experts" could not have possibly been in
everyday Bogor traffic like normal residents, i.e. without police
escort to clear the way!
We have lived in Bogor for over 10 years and with
disappointment have witnessed the deteriorating traffic
conditions, mainly caused by the growing number of vehicles which
needs to be managing somehow. The way this is done, however,
seems to be lacking vision and expertise.
1. Traffic lights, which often don't work because the
notorious Bogor thunderstorms cause havoc with them, have been
erected on many corners. Their broken light bulbs are rarely
replaced, but there is however money to paint the curbs nearly
every month.
2. In order to clear congested public roads the city traffic
authorities choose to divert traffic through residential areas,
especially on Sundays and holidays. This most likely contributes
to the "residents' awareness of traffic conditions."
3. Bridges and roads are left to fall into such disrepair that
finally they have to be closed completely, leading to extensive
traffic jams.
4. While whole brigades of policemen are deployed, they do not
contribute much to solving traffic problems, as they mainly
whistle "Brr" "Brr" and wave their arms, without any idea as to
how to clear a congested junction, or enforce stopping at red
lights.
5. The most efficient instrument so far seems to be the Patung
Polisi (a statue of a policeman): firm, incorruptible,
permanently on service and ...I still fall into a trap!
Maybe some police officers could be sent to Italy to learn
from their counterparts how to efficiently conduct traffic.
Anybody having witnessed their action at the Vittorio Emmanuele
Monument in Rome knows what is meant. As an added bonus the
concept of Mani Pulite could also be introduced!
ULRIKE WOOD-SICHRA
Bogor, West Java