Motorbike riders in exodus to get police escort

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 09/30/2006 9:37 AM  |  Jakarta

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As more people are switching to motorcycles to beat the usual heavy traffic on their journey to their hometowns for Idul Fitri, the Jakarta Police plan to send escorts to facilitate their journey.

Jakarta Police traffic director Sr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said Friday that they would set up two meeting points for motorcycle drivers: Bung Karno Sports Complex and the National Monument Park, both in Central Jakarta.

""We will start escorting motorcycles leaving for cities on Java island five days before Idul Fitri until two days after,"" he said.

Idul Fitri will fall on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 this year.

Djoko said that a team of 10 police officers would escort motorcycles in groups of 100 to 250.

""The police will guard them at the front, middle and behind,"" he said.

Motorcyclists are easy targets for robbers on their journey to their hometowns as they usually carry home cash for their families. They also find it difficult to compete for space on the roads alongside buses, vans and trucks.

Djoko said that interested motorcycle drivers could come to the meeting points to give a letter to state that they are going to their hometown by motorcycle.

He said that for the last days of the operation, the police would still continue escorting motorcycles even though there would only be around 10 motorcycles per group.

""If it's within the period of the operation we will still escort them,"" he said.

Every year, in conjunction with the Islamic holiday of Idul Fitri, the majority of Muslims living in Jakarta go back to their hometowns to visit parents and relatives to ask for forgiveness.

The Transportation Ministry estimates a 40 percent increase in motorcycle drivers this year, to three million from last year's two million drivers using motorcycles to return home for Idul Fitri, a practice known as mudik, from Jakarta to areas in West, Central, and East Java.

Djoko said that the National Police would coordinate the escort using a relay system.

Under the relay system the Jakarta Police would escort motorcycle drivers from Jakarta to Karawang in West Java, where West Java Police personnel would take over until the group reached Central Java. Central Java Police would then accompany the motorcyclists to East Java where East Java Police personnel would accompany the groups to their destination.

In preparation for the Muslim holiday season, the Jakarta Police will conduct the Ketupat Jaya traffic operation from Oct. 17 to Nov. 8.

The operation will cover public transportation terminals, such as bus stations, train stations, airports and ports which are most likely to be packed with people returning to their hometown.

Some 2,733 personnel will be involved in the operation.

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