“People in Jakarta still need becak. Hence the city administration will accommodate the citizens’ need for becak by preparing special routes so they [becak] can be a form of neighborhood transportation,” he told Kompas on Sunday. 

Women who want to go to the market, Anies said, was one example of people who need becak. According to Anies, they would not use ojek (motorcycle taxis) or public transportation since usually they bought a lot of things from the market. 

“It would be a nuisance for them to bring a lot of things using ojek or other forms of public transportation, like minivans,” he said.

Anies also mentioned that stopping becak from operating was going to negatively impact drivers since there were a lot of people who drive becak as a source of income.

Coordinator of Jakarta’s Low-Income Citizen Network (JRMK) Eni Rochayati said the city governments usually did not provide a comprehensive solution for becak drivers. 

“We are developing the concept so that becak can be neighborhood transportation. Hopefully the administration will support [the concept] so that becak will no longer be [bothered]” Eni said.(dpk)

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