B

andung Mayor, Ridwan Kamil, became an angkot (public minivan) driver on Friday serving the Kebon Kalapa-Dago route to seek a solution to the city'€™s transportation problem.

'€œSurprise!'€ Exclaimed Ridwan after driving an angkot.

Ridwan and his wife rode one of at 200 minivans plying the route. They were accompanied by Bandung City Council Speaker, Erwan Setiawan, who served as the conductor of the angkot. They took part in Angkot Day, a survey organized by the Riset Indie.

The survey is aimed at seeking a solution to the traffic congestions in Bandung city through socio-economic approaches. The organizing committee raised Rp 101 million (US$9,000) through public funding which was used to pay rent owed by drivers. The drivers have to pay rent between Rp 80,000 and Rp 100,000 daily.

'€œThe most difficult time to find passengers is between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,'€ said Pudin Nasution, 35, who has been driving angkot since 1996.

During Angkot Day, every passenger can travel by angkot for free from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. The organizers have also placed a volunteer on each angkot to record data and complaints from passengers.

There are about 5,000 angkot in Bandung serving 37 routes.

Riset Indie coordinator, Seterhen Akbar, expressed hope every angkot driver could provide maximum service. '€œBecause they are not focused on paying rent costs to angkot owners,'€ said Seterhen.

He added each angkot could provide a more efficient and comfortable services. If an angkot provides a quick and comfortable service, passengers will be willing to use it.

In response to the activity, Ridwan said he would form an independent team to assess the comfort and safety of angkot. It is aimed at encouraging members of the public to travel in the city by angkot. '€œThe assessment must be comprehensive, including the drivers'€™ income. I hope more members of the public would travel by angkot.'€

Bandung city currently has a population of 2.7 million. Increasing population has also increased the number of vehicles, however, the length of roads in Bandung have not been changed which lead to traffic congestion and extending travel time.