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Odd-even traffic policy reduces congestion by 32.4 percent
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Motorists drive along the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road in Bekasi, West Java. (Antara/Risky Andrianto)
T
he implementation of the odd-even traffic policy has reduced traffic congestion along the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road. But motorists have not shifted to public transportation, preferring to seek alternative routes instead, according to an evaluation following three weeks of the policy's implementation.
Before the policy was enforced, as many as 8,806 vehicles passed through the West and East Bekasi toll road gates. After three weeks of the implementation of the old-even policy, 5,146 vehicles passed through the two toll gates.
Under the new policy, only vehicles with even license plate numbers are allowed to pass through the toll gates on even dates, and only vehicles with odd license plate numbers are allowed to pass the gates on odd dates. The policy is aimed at reducing traffic congestion between Bekasi and Jakarta.
The Indonesia Toll Road Authority (BPJT), however, said there was no significant increase in the use of public transportation, as most commuters preferred to seek alternative routes following the introduction of the policy.
“Our conclusion is that car users consider that their car is the most comfortable means of transportation,” BPJT head Bambang Prihartono said in Jakarta on Sunday as reported by kompas.com.
He further explained that 22 percent of toll road users used alternative routes in the first week of the policy's implementation and 38 percent of motorists sought alternative routes in the third week.
Furthermore, motorists are choosing to leave their homes earlier to avoid the restrictions. (bbn)
