Traffic policy plan criticized by commuters

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Motorists have expressed their objection to the city administration's plan to extend the three-in-one traffic policy as they consider it ineffective to cope with the traffic congestion in the city.

"If the final goal is to ease traffic, please take a look at what happens now," said Era, a customer relations officer from a women's magazine, located just off Jl. MH Thamrin.

"The traffic now shifts to the side streets parallel to Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin," she said.

Under the three-in-one policy, vehicles with less than three passengers are not allowed to drive on the main thoroughfares of Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Jendral Sudirman from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. from Monday to Friday.

Two weeks ago the assistant to the city secretary for development affairs Irzal Djamal revealed the plan to extend the traffic policy during rush hour not only in the morning, but also in the afternoon. It would also be extended to other areas in accordance with the implementation of the 12.9-kilometer busway system, from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta.

A few days later, however, Governor Sutiyoso, played down the idea, saying that it was revealed just for public discourse. Sutiyoso, who left for a 12-day tour of Latin America Saturday, said that the final policy would be announced after he returned home. During his trip he plans to take another look at the busway system in Bogota.

Many motorists, especially those whose work in or near the restricted zone, have their own way to deal with the three-in-one policy. There are some who just ignore the rule as the police are not always on duty at the entrance to the zone. If they are caught, the police just let them go after taking bribes of between Rp 10,000 or Rp 20,000.

Instead of implementing the car-pooling system, many people just hire a joki. The term for people, usually children, or women with their babies, who pose as passengers for a small fee, ranging from Rp 2,000 to Rp 10,000. Some even take their housemaids.

Kitri, a corporate banking officer whose office is located in the Jakarta Stock Exchange building in South Jakarta, said that she had to bring her housemaid with her every morning.

"It is in fact very silly. The policy is actually made to reduce the traffic in the morning, but if everybody does what I do, what's the point?" she said.

The three-in-one policy was launched in the early 1990s, and so far has only benefited the joki and police.

Diana, an employee whose office is also on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta, said that she often hired a joki and paid Rp 2,000 for the service.

Diana, who lives in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, actually knows an alternative road heading to her office, but it takes too much time.

"It is better if I hire a joki rather than taking the alternate route as it takes about 15 minutes longer," she added.

Meanwhile, Andry, a lawyer whose office is at the Danamon building on Jl. Sudirman, also hires people to sit in his car. He pays Rp 3,000 for each joki.

Andry said that it would be better for the government to improve the public transportation system, instead of implementing such a policy.

"I wouldn't mind using public transportation, if it were safe, clean and comfortable enough," said Andry, "But you see now, the public buses are so dirty with many pick-pockets operating inside."

Most public buses in Jakarta are overloaded with passengers. They look more like giants cans of human sardines rather than buses.

Nevertheless, Edward, an expatriate who works at a foreign embassy, said that the three-in-one policy might be a good way to make new friends.

"I often see people stop at bus stops and ask other people to join them," he said.