I

admit I'€™ve entered Transjakarta bus lanes a couple of times when I drive.

Sometimes, I don'€™t give way for a bus full of people that wants to enter my lane.

Perhaps I felt frustrated driving on Jakarta'€™s congested roads, or perhaps I feel incredulous at the bus driver'€™s impoliteness in the way he sought to enter the lane but afterward I felt bad, as I became aware of the number of people on the bus; they only wanted to get home, as I did, and I was alone in my car while they did not have that luxury.

If only the buses were more comfortable, I would want to use them instead of drive my car. But then, I was one of the reasons the bus wasn'€™t more comfortable; I deliberately blocked its way.

I was the one who was rude.

If I were to give way to buses as I usually give way to ambulances, police cars and fire trucks, I'€™m not sure whether the bus way system would be needed.

So, I'€™ve been reflecting on an article, '€œA key year for city public transportation'€ (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 4), by Bambang Nurbianto, about the government not being too tough on motorcyclists '€” or perhaps drivers, too '€” as it referred to the busway system. I think we all need to be more aware about the way we drive or ride our vehicles.

Fernisia
Jakarta