Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said motorcyclists would be fined up to Rp 500,000 (US$39) if they were caught traveling along the restricted roads.

'€œThe Transportation Agency has already put up traffic signs to restrict motorcycles. If they violate the traffic signs, they may be fined up to Rp 500,000 based on the Traffic and Land Transportation Law,'€ Martinus told reporters at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Wednesday after a meeting with Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama.

Article 287 of the 2009 Law on Traffic and Land Transportation stipulates a maximum of two months in jail or a Rp 500,000 fine for road users who violate rules and traffic signs.

'€œWe will mobilize police officers starting on Jan. 18 to implement the policy 24 hours a day. They will ticket motorcyclists who violate the traffic sign,'€ Martinus said.

Despite motorcyclists'€™ complaints that these new restrictions would exacerbate congestion in other areas, Martinus claimed that after a monthlong trial, traffic congestion in the two roads declined significantly. Most motorcyclists, he said, have obeyed the new traffic sign and the two roads have been significantly quieter without the presence of motorcycles.

'€œThe motorcycle prohibition has thus far been effective. It has proven to reduce traffic congestion [in Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat] by 40 percent because cars can travel and queue more orderly without motorcycles slipping around,'€ Martinus said.

The Jakarta administration implemented the trial on motorcycle prohibition in Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat starting Dec. 17. As an alternative form of transportation, the city administration provided free five City Tour buses and a number of Transjakarta buses.

The free buses travel around Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Sarinah shopping mall, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Harmoni and Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, all in Central Jakarta.

Ahok said he plans to expand the motorcycle prohibition to Jl. Sudirman, Blok M and Kuningan in South Jakarta before eventually prohibiting motorcycles from all roads with Transjakarta corridors.

He said his administration would buy more Transjakarta buses before expanding the policy into other areas.

Martinus said the police were proposing another restriction that would target old private cars in the capital'€™s main thoroughfares. He said the old cars restriction could be applied in 2017 after the city provided good public transportation.

'€œWe need to do more studies on the policy. However, public transportation must be ready first,'€ he said.

The administration also plans to impose a high tax on private cars over ten years old in the next two years in an attempt to reduce the use of cars among residents. Ahok said prior to the tax hike, he promised to improve the service of public transportation to encourage private vehicle owners to shift to public transportation.

'€œStarting in 2017, we will charge an expensive tax for owners of private cars that are over 10 years old. If you can'€™t afford the tax, then sell your car and take the bus instead,'€ Ahok said.

The city administration is currently constructing the much anticipated mass rapid transit (MRT) system. The city in cooperation with Indonesia Infrastructure Initiative (IndII) is currently conducting studies to revitalize the city'€™s public transportation.

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