Endang, an employee of a private company on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, has a special trick to survive congestion in Kota, Central Jakarta.
After arriving at the Transjakarta bus terminal in Kota, Central Jakarta, he quickly moves nearby where a line of old bicycles are parked, and jumps into the passenger's seat.
It takes only five minutes to get to his client's office, while other vehicles such as bajaj (motorized pedicab) and taxis require 20 to 30 minutes during rush hours.
"The drivers can zigzag in crowded streets or ride on sidewalks," he said, adding that they don't hesitate to break traffic regulations.
He said that he paid Rp 5,000 (54 US cents) for each trip.
The old bicycles service, popularly known as ojek sepeda (bike taxis) can be found mostly in Kota, and some other areas near the North Jakarta's coastal areas like Muara Angke and Muara Karang.
The huge increase of motorbikes has resulted in the decreasing number of the bicycles.
However, they still survive with passengers considering them a useful means of transportation for short trips.
On sunny days, Sadali, the captain of an eight-crew-member fishing boat, usually takes bike taxis 500 meters from Jl. Mandala Bahari, Muara Angke, to the intersection of Muara Karang and Muara Baru in North Jakarta.
"In the morning, I usually walk. But in the afternoon it's very hot and there's no other public vehicles," he said.
"I also find them useful during high tides when the area is inundated. Bike taxis still operate even when the water is knee high," he said.
Tholib, a 53-years-old ojek driver who has served in the area for 20 years, is among the few drivers who will brave the water to carry his passengers, mostly of whom are fishermen. He earns between Rp 30,000 and Rp 40,000 from a maximum of 20 passengers per day.
"Motorbike taxis are available but they do not want to take passengers for a short distance trips, especially in high water," he added.
Like several of his colleagues, every day Tholib sleeps in a nearby police station. Once a week he rides his old bike for two hours to visit his wife and eight children in Tangerang.
Sarwani, 50, a bike taxi driver for over 20 years in Kota, can earn between Rp 0,000 and Rp 40,000 per day, with the cheapest rate at Rp 3,000 for a 300-meter distance.
"The rate is flexible. I do not bother if passengers bargain," said the father of five, whose family lives in his hometown Karawang, West Java.
"On rainy days, I get less passengers. If it's only light rain, I keep working," he said. (lnd)
