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Jakarta Post

Car use limitations? Not for now

Traffic has long plagued Jakartans' daily lives, especially in the last few years with the growing numbers of private cars and motorcycles clogging the city's arteries

Triwik Kurniasari (The Jakarta Post)
JAKARTA
Fri, May 1, 2009

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Car use limitations? Not for now

T

raffic has long plagued Jakartans' daily lives, especially in the last few years with the growing numbers of private cars and motorcycles clogging the city's arteries.

According to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), the number of cars in the city increases by 5 to 10 percent every year.

The city administration and many people in Jakarta are seriously considering limiting private car use in the city's streets to tackle the traffic problem.

Many residents, however, have opposed the plan.

Yoga, a Cipayung resident in East Jakarta, said he preferred to drive around town than using public transportation, as it was more comfortable and safe for him than taking a bus. "Look at the city's public transportation! It is in a really abysmal condition," said Yoga recently.

Jakartans, including himself, once had high hopes for the busway system (Transjakarta buses), which was said to offer a better and faster service for public transportation users, he said.

"But so far, all I see is long queues at almost every bus stop in the city," Yoga said.

"It's like queuing for the BLT *a direct cash assistance given by the central government to low-income families*. It makes me reluctant to take the bus.," he said.

Another resident, Denny, also nodded with agreement.

"We have a right to use our own cars. I, myself, choose to use my car over taking the bus because it is more comfortable, as I don't have to wait for a bus or queue in a long line to get into the bus," he said.

Yoga and Denny were speaking at a public forum organized by the Jakarta Transportation Council on Wednesday, about limiting the use of cars to ease traffic congestion in the capital.

Yoga said he would turn to the city's public transportation system if the administration provided more appropriate vehicles and better services than today.

He suggested the city administration involve residents before setting any new policies.

"It *the city administration* should engage us, motorists and bus passengers, to participate in discussions about the upcoming transportation ruling," said Yoga.

"It should give us a chance to speak our minds," he said.

Franciscus Trisbiantara, a transportation expert from Trisakti University, said it was impossible to restrict the use of cars today.

"Limitations on car use are really needed. It is unavoidable," said Tris. "But we cannot apply the ruling until the city provides proper and adequate public transportation," he said.

The administration should improve its transportation system first before implementing a limited car use policy.

"The administration should speed up the development of 15 Transjakarta busway corridors," he said, adding he also fully supported the development of a railway system.

"All modes of transportation should be integrated and connected to each other to make is easier for users to get from one place to another," said Tris.

He suggested the administration immediately solve Transjakarta management and services problems for the sake of the public's needs.

Once the appropriate public transportation was ready, he said, the administration could start limiting car use.

Electronic road pricing (ERP) was an effective way to achieve the goal, Tris said.

The ERP will limit the number of private cars entering heavily congested areas. Those choosing to enter the zones will have to pay a fee.

"Raising parking fees will also deter residents from driving cars. Compared to other cities abroad, parking fees in Jakarta are much lower," he said.

"This will be an effective way to limit the number of private cars on the city's streets, particularly if the rate is much higher than Transjakarta bus fees, for instance.

"People will think twice about driving private cars," he said.

Based on a 2006 bylaw regulating parking fees, parking fees are Rp 1,000 for cars, Rp 2,000 for buses and Rp 500 for motorcycles.

Tris said another way to alleviate the traffic problem was applying a development impact fee, a charge for developers encouraging them to provide public facilities.

Muhammad Akbar, an official at the transportation agency, admitted the limitation on car use could not proceed without an adequate and proper public transportation system.

"We plan to apply some schemes like the ERP and licence plate ruling, to encourage people using private cars to switch to public transportation," said Akbar.

"We, however, need to improve our public transportation network, such as Transjakarta buses and city trains connecting ERP areas with other parts of the city, before applying this policy," he said.

On several occasions, the administration announced it planned to issue a rule restricting driving based on license plates.

Cars with license plates ending with a certain digit will not be allowed on roads on specific days.

The limitation on car use is one of the agency's strategies to develop an efficient transportation system.

Akbar said the administration was also considering building more roads, as the number of roads in the capital was still far from ideal compared to other cities in neighboring countries.

This plan, however, was slammed by Tris.

"Widening toll roads or building new roads is not the right way to solve the city's traffic problem," he said.

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