Plis Deh Jakarta!

Experts say, Jakarta’s public transport system needs an overhaul.

…there would be no ease-up in the daily traffic jams experienced by residents in the capital unless major changes were made to the public transportation system.

Who says Indonesia doesn’t have any smart people?

Force Vehicles Off Roads to Cut Gridlock: Expert

Curb vehicle ownership by additional taxes for 2nd or 3rd vehicle, road taxes, build effective public transportation systems, etc. etc.

In a somewhat signature act of far-flung vision with terrible planning, the outgoing governor, Sutiyoso, launched the city water taxis in June 2007, spending Rp 200 billion on the facilities with a pilot project serving a 1.7 km route with two 28-person boats. So where is it now?

The first few trips failed when, among others, garbage got stuck in the boat’s rotors. This, and not to mention that apparently not all of Ciliwung River can be dredged to serve such a water transport service.

So Rp 200 billion and ambition = nothing happening.

Hating people who cut lines on the Transjakarta queue, or people littering in the Transjakarta facilities?

This lady (and her group) has the right idea: she always scolds people cutting in line, and tells on people who litter. For most Jakartans, it may be a bit harsh, but maybe it’s just what we need – we live in the city where people wear motorcycle helmets because of police nearby, and not for their own safety.

Suara Transjakarta is, I think, a better way for citizen activism, compared to endless demonstrations in front of government buildings. These guys are not pro-government, mind you – they have their criticism towards the Transjakarta service as well. But they are working positively on how, at least, the average citizen can make Transjakarta better. Because if we want to make Jakarta more tolerable to live in, it’s also up to us, not just the government…

Last month, the government unveiled their plan to make Jakarta flood-free by 2025.

Yipeee. What do we do for the intervening 16 years? But to give the government some credit, the plan is seemingly comprehensive… then again, I have never seen any project continued consistently for 4 years, let alone 16. I’m not even sure if they have integrated this into other grand plans i.e. overhauling the public transport network, creation of cheaper housing complexes and so on.

But hey kids, there’s always something we can do, right? Like making sure we dont litter the rivers in the first place.

At long last, the government is mulling over on changing the way public transport systems are paid.

Right now, public transport routes are licensed to member companies of Organda (the Organization of Land Transportation Owners), who then require their drivers to pay a minimum per day to cover those license costs. This in turn causes the lack of service, the disregard of safety, the lack of maintenance, causing traffic jams, and generally a total suck as something supposed to satisfy the general public. Because this way, drivers will only care about making their minimum daily payment – to hell with what the passengers want, and to hell with the law!

The new payment system proposed pays by the kilometer, and not by minimum payment, so that the drivers would stick to their routes.

Although it took perhaps 20 years to see this glaring shortcoming, at least a big change will come. Who knows when.

Activists have pointed out, yet again, that from mismanagement of traffic and public transport, Jakarta will be in a total gridlock by 2014. This would be caused by a mix of new vehicle sales, bad traffic management and chaotic public transport services. Thus, creating the world’s biggest parking lot, bar none (except if the world really does end in 2012 like the Mayans say).

Somebody needs to do something about this. For all the buzz in the news, the MRT project will remain for me a figment of the imagination until I see it running before my eyes, as I have been traumatized by the failure of the monorail project. The only way that Jakarta can get its citizens to abandon daily use of private vehicles is to have the vision of creating a public transport network that is efficient, far-reaching (right into the congested suburbs and satellite towns), secure (from pickpockets, at least), safe and reliable. None of the above can be said about any mode of public transport right now. Proof? From various areas in Jakarta, it actually takes longer to travel from one point to another by public transport than it does with a private vehicle. Considering Jakartan’s obsession with speed, no wonder they prefer their souped-up motorcycles.

The Jakarta Globe published a hilarious article explaining what you need to know about commuting in Jakarta. Here’s an excerpt:

Angkot could either be a Toyota Kijang or a Daihatsu Carry modified to carry 12 to 14 people. Because they are the size of a regular family van, angkot can travel down much narrower roads than public buses. Angkot are primarily used as market transportation vehicles, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting next to sacks of meat and vegetables.

Angkot fares are dependent on distance. Drivers charge Rp 1,500 for a short trip and Rp 4,000 to travel the length of the route. Standing on the edge of an angkot is illegal, but nobody really cares.

Enjoy!

In an apparent encore, passengers were delayed for 8 hours on their AirAsia Jakarta-Balikpapan flight. At least this time, the passengers were notified by SMS – albeit on the same day, for some just before they checked in – that there would be an 8 hour delay due to engine repairs.

It brings to mind the comparisons made between the AirAsia service with economy-class intercity buses: errant schedule, check. Food sold in the aisles, check. Seats that strain your back and cram your knees, check. Free seating that leads to a fight for life to get a good seat, check.