'Traffic jams at night now normal'
Starting on Monday, the police will begin enforcing the extended three-in-one traffic policy, with offenders facing sentences of up to a month in jail and a fine of Rp 1 million (US$119). The city administration enacted the new policy to clear the way for the Trans-Jakarta busway, which will begin full operation on Feb. 1. However, some residents The Jakarta Post spoke with doubt the three-in-one policy will be effective in reducing the number of private cars on the road.
Andi, 35, works in an office on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta:
The three-in-one traffic policy will interfere with our daily business activities as we have to leave the office at all times to meet with clients and business partners. And it certainly will not be efficient to send at least three people (to meetings) just to comply with the traffic policy.
We usually send our office drivers to deliver documents. You know that no one likes delays, and we don't want to disappoint our partners just because of this traffic policy.
We still don't know how to deal with this. We hope the administration will find a more acceptable mechanism to control the number of private cars (on the road).
Yu Yan, 28, works in Kuningan, South Jakarta. She lives with her parents in Jembatan Lima, West Jakarta:
I have no problem with the three-in-one policy. I've complied with the policy since the first day it was announced.
But I don't think it will be effective in reducing traffic because motorists will just look for alternative routes.
Marcus Alimin, 35, is a manager at a private bank in Sudirman, Central Jakarta. He lives with his wife in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta:
I thought the three-in-one policy had already started last month. I didn't know it was just a trial period.
It is a pain in the neck, though, as I have to take alternative routes to avoid the policy. What's worse is that the alternative routes are now even more congested than ever.
The most ridiculous thing is that the three-in-one rule is also effective from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It just delays the traffic jams that used to start at 5 p.m. by two hours. Now I have to stay at the office until at least 8 p.m. to avoid the traffic.
Can you believe it? Traffic jams at night? It could only happen here in this crazy city.
--The Jakarta Post