Ojeks ready to ply between venues at PON

Musthofid ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Samarinda   |  Tue, 07/08/2008 8:25 PM  |  Headlines

More than 500 ojek, or motorcycle taxis, have been recruited to ferry media workers and officials between venues at the National Games in East Kalimantan.

In Samarinda, which has three main venues -- Palaran, Sempaja and Segiri -- at least 130 ojek are at the ready to take journalists and officials from venue to venue.

Some people are even taking the motorcycle taxis to travel between venues in the Palaran sports compound, a sprawling area located in a hilly area outside the city. It is the venue for located in a hilly area outside the city. It is the venue for gymnastics, rock climbing, badminton, diving, motorcycling, athletics and soccer.

Although taxicabs are provided, most people prefer ojek when going to Sempaja, around a 45-minute drive from Palaran, because it allows them to beat the traffic as they make their way through the city.

The Sempaja complex is hosting the basketball, fencing and pencak silat competitions, as well as the athletes compound. Other sports held outside Palaran include soccer, men's softball at the renovated Segiri stadium, kempo at a school building, tae kwon do at a local university and dance sport at Bumi Senyiur Hotel.

With the Games in full gear, ojek drivers are among the most popular people around.

"We have almost 100 trips every day," said an attendant at the service desk in front of the main media center.

Those seeking a ride register at the desk first, and an ojek, which shuttles in from near the gymnastics building opposite the media center, is paged. (***)

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