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Drivers of once iconic 'bajaj' struggle to make ends meet
Drivers of the three-wheeled taxis, once iconic and practical transportation in cities across the nation, are struggling to find passengers in Jakarta with the ongoing expansion of the TransJakarta BRT (bus rapid transit) and the revival of angkot (public minivans).
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Sutoyo, a 58-year-old ‘bajaj’ driver from Nganjuk, East Java, gestures on Dec. 20, 2023 beside his three-wheeled vehicle in Gandaria Utara, South Jakarta. The blue ‘bajaj’ is more environmentally friendly, as they run on compressed natural gas (CNG). (JP/Nur Janti)
B
em>Bajaj, a three-wheeled vehicle with a steering mechanism resembling motorcycle handles, can carry two passengers as its driver braves the perennial traffic crisscrossing the capital.
The blue bajaj that currently plies the streets of Jakarta is more environmentally friendly, as it is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and is relatively quiet. It also has a four-stroke engine and a wider body, making for a more comfortable ride.
In contrast, the older orange bajaj, now practically extinct, has a two-stroke engine and runs on gasoline. It emits a loud, rumbling noise and billowing white smoke that can waft into the cabin during a bone-jarring ride that seems little faster than a brisk jog.
Although the transformation from the orange to the blue bajaj was hailed as a success, it has not really benefited the drivers, who are still struggling to make ends meet.
Mursidi, a 50-year-old bajaj driver who was waiting for passengers along Jl. Radio Dalam in South Jakarta, said he found it difficult to earn a steady income because people preferred to take the TransJakarta BRT (bus rapid transit) or angkot (public minivans) that served routes through that road.
Some bajaj drivers could not even afford rent, he said, so they had to sleep in their bajaj or an empty, unguarded house.
