Workers' Buses Crowd South Medan Merdeka Road, Causing Traffic Jam
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Vehicle traffic on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta experienced severe congestion due to the influx of buses carrying workers for the International Labour Day or May Day commemoration at the National Monument (Monas) on Friday (1/5/2026).
Kompas.com observations at the scene at 06:45 WIB showed that the jam began from the Horse Statue Roundabout area to Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan towards Monas. Large buses filled up to three lanes of the road.
Several buses were seen with stickers indicating participants, including those reading “Bus 240 Jabar Kabupaten Bekasi”, “May Day Fiesta 2026 Jawa Barat”, and “Purwakarta Goes To Jakarta”. The workers were known to be coming from various areas in the Jabodetabek region.
Some buses even stopped in the middle of the road to drop off passengers so they could walk directly to the action site at Monas.
Police officers along with TNI personnel were on guard around the location. They also reprimanded drivers caught parking on the roadside.
“For vehicles parked on the edge of the road, we will tow them,” said one female police officer using a loudspeaker.
One driver, Jojali (46), said he had been stuck in the traffic jam for nearly 20 minutes.
“I’ve been stationary for almost 20 minutes. These big buses are looking for parking for that workers’ event,” said Jojali.
“I just need to turn around, but I’m held up because of the buses,” he added.
Meanwhile, one bus driver, Ahmad (54), was forced to drop off passengers on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.
This was done because the provided bus parking area was in the Jalan Benyamin Sueb region, which is quite far from the action point, taking about 30 minutes from Monas.
“If we go to the parking location, it’s too far, the walk is tiring. Dropping off passengers doesn’t take long,” said Ahmad.
For information, the May Day commemoration will be held at Monas in Central Jakarta on Friday (1/5/2026).
In addition, President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend the event that starts at 08:00 WIB.