The 'bajaj' wants to stay

Jakarta administration may want to get rid its notorious three-wheeled, toxic-belching bajaj pedicab for good, but the vehicles' drivers seem to loath the idea.

Around 160 bajaj drivers went on strike in front of the city hall in Central Jakarta, on Tuesday morning, demanding that the city still allow them to operate in the city.

According to Second Brig. Tata from the City Police's Traffic Management Center, the drivers strike went for more than two hours and ended shortly pass noon.

Earlier in the day, the drivers convoyed along Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, the city's main road, which is forbidden to bajaj.

Tata said that the police allowed the drivers to pass through the road because they were on a demonstration.

According to official records, there are around 14,000 bajaj operating in the city. The administration planned to replace all of them with newer, greener bajaj that run on compressed natural gas.

By the end of 2007, however, there were only around 250 of the newer bajaj in operation. (*)