Letter: Please behave, motorcyclists!

The number of motorcycles in the Greater Jakarta has been growing rapidly over the last four years. It is good news as more and more people are able to purchase the goods. However, the ugly side of motorists is really frustrating.

We used to feel lucky that we lived on the main street of a housing complex. But now it is really a nightmare. Every time we open the gate to leave the house, we always feel our safety is at risk due to uncontrolled speeding motorists - either they are racing or showing off. Sadly, it is not something that we can prevent.

We feel the arrogance of motorists most when our relatives came to visit us with their babies. A baby often cries of shock when a motorcycle with its "racing muffler" passes through. What a noisy environment! Unfortunately, now motorcycles freely run along streets with noisy mufflers.

I have even sent a text message to the Jakarta TMC (Traffic Management Center) requesting that the police pay attention to my problem. It was good, I got a response that it was not TMC's job. I also sent another text message (SMS) to President SBY through 9949.

Moreover, I've tried to be more proactive by distributing leaflets to beg motorist to behave. No improvement, in fact it's getting worse. Public transportation cars have started using that kind of muffler. And I get more frustrated when letters that I send to two different newspapers complaining about this condition never get posted. It's seems I have been screaming in a very large desert. However, I believe it is not the end of hope. Someday you, reader of this letter, will join us in making Greater Jakarta a pleasant place to live. Motorists are not the people's enemy; they just need a stronger country.

I Nyoman Suri Adnyana
Bekasi, West Java