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

'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