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otorcyclists, prepare yourselves. The city administration has hinted that it will expand the implementation of its motorcycle-restriction policy following an evaluation that claimed its '€œeffectiveness'€ in reducing traffic jams.

Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said early this week that the trial motorcycle prohibition, currently implemented on Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta, would be expanded to other main thoroughfares, including Jl. Sudirman.

'€œBased on our evaluation, the policy has been effective. We will expand the policy onto Jl. Sudirman,'€ Ahok told reporters at City Hall.

He added that the city would provide an additional number of buses before expanding the motorcycle prohibition.

'€œWe'€™ll procure the buses to accommodate the motorcyclists first. We will expand the prohibition once the buses arrive and are ready to use,'€ he said.

Since Dec. 18, the administration has conducted a one-month trial restricting motorcyclists from passing down Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat. Both streets were chosen in line with the city'€™s plan to impose an electronic road pricing (ERP) toll system on the capital'€™s main streets.

In order to reach their destinations, motorcyclists had to take alternative roads. They still can cross both streets as is allowed by the policy of the three-in-one traffic system.

Separately, newly installed Jakarta Transportation Agency head Benjamin Bukit claimed that despite public criticism, the motorcycle prohibition had successfully smoothened traffic flows in the designated areas.

'€œI know some people disagree with the policy, but on the other hand, we can see that the traffic becomes way better without motorcycles taking up the lanes,'€ Benjamin told The Jakarta Post.

According to Benjamin, although a thorough evaluation of the trial would only be available on Jan. 17, the administration plans to try applying the motorcycle restriction policy to the Semanggi cloverleaf and even to Blok M.

Since day one, the policy has reaped protests from motorcyclists who previously were accustomed to using the main thoroughfares on a daily basis. Dody Achmadi, an administration clerk, for example, said he was forced to take a public bus instead of his motorcycle to deliver documents.

Others who did not take the prohibited roads have also complained that the policy has affected their routes because hundreds of the motorcyclists heading to the prohibited thoroughfares were rerouted and caused traffic congestion.

Agus Irwansyah, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver, was upset when he heard about the plan to expand the motorcycle prohibition and called it further proof that marginalized citizens were taken for granted in Jakarta.

'€œThe currently prohibited areas have already reduced my income. Maybe I should consider having another profession if the policy is widened to Blok M,'€ he said.

Agus explained that during the trial motorcycle restriction policy on Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Merdeka Barat, most of his loyal customers have shifted to taxis.

'€œOther ojek drivers also said the same thing to me. We are ready to stage a public rally if the administration does not review the upcoming policy,'€ he said.

Owners of courier companies also criticized the policy as it would affect their time-sensitive business.

Express Couriers Association of Indonesia (Asperindo) chairman M. Kadrial recently said that the association would keep trying to lobby the administration to grant an exception for their couriers.

We will expand the prohibition once the buses arrive and are ready to use'€