'We better seek ways to avoid the 3-in-1 zone'

The tough new three-in-one traffic policy in the capital has not stopped road users from using their private cars. At least 1,200 motorists have been ticketed for violating the new policy in the last two days. And joki (paid passengers) are still offering their services along roads leading to the three-in-one zone. The Jakarta Post talked to some city residents about the issue.

Cindy, 30, is a bank executive whose office is in Harmoni, Central Jakarta. She lives in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta:

I'd rather just obey the three-in-one rule rather than being fined and having to go to court, because I don't have time for that.

Moreover, given how serious the authorities are this time about enforcing the new policy -- as least from what I have seen on the streets -- I chose to leave my car at my office and try the busway, since I couldn't find anybody to go with me to meet some clients in Thamrin.

But I don't know how long the authorities will go on strictly enforcing the policy. I think new regulations are usually enthusiastically and strictly enforced at the beginning, but then they are eventually forgotten about.

Hariyadi, 35, works in Pecenongan, Central Jakarta. He lives in Bekasi, east of Jakarta:

I don't think the three-in-one policy will ever really work, as long as people still find it more convenient commuting between places in their own cars.

What we see then are people finding ways to elude the three-in-one zone, such as using joki, going to and leaving their offices early or finding alternative routes, which is just the same as shifting traffic jams from the three-in-one corridor to other times and places.

It would be an improvement if people started carpooling to the office, or better yet started using public transportation, including the busway, but I don't know if that has really happened yet.

--The Jakarta Post