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City-wide transportation restrictions cause buildup at stations
A restriction on the operational hours of public transportation imposed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 appears to have backfired, with large crowds and long lines building up at Transjakarta and MRT Jakarta stations across the capital on Monday
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span>A restriction on the operational hours of public transportation imposed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 appears to have backfired, with large crowds and long lines building up at Transjakarta and MRT Jakarta stations across the capital on Monday.
City-owned bus operator Transjakarta was operating only 13 of its 248 routes, with 20-minute headway expected for each bus. As a result, long lines began to accumulate at stations, stretching onto the streets at sidewalks.
Lia Muspiroh, a Transjakarta user who usually takes a bus from the Mangga Besar Station in West Jakarta, said she was shocked to find people crowding the usually quiet shelter on Monday morning.
“I don’t mind the restriction, but there should be more [buses] operating. Passengers are squeezed against each other inside the buses,” Lia said as reported by kompas.com.
Transjakarta management announced the restriction on Sunday, saying it would only operate 13 routes from March 16 to 30. During the same period, the company will also suspend its evening services (AMARI).
Dividers are provided at bus stations so that passengers can stand at a distance from one another. Transjakarta said it would also adjust the distance between seats inside its buses to minimize contact between passengers.
However, pictures spreading on social media have shown commuters — many wearing face masks — squeezing into packed buses and stations.
The restriction was part of the city administration’s efforts to promote social distancing as Jakarta grapples with an increasing number of COVID-19 infections.
Besides Transjakarta, city-owned MRT Jakarta and LRT Jakarta have also imposed similar measures.
Transjakarta urged Jakartans to stay home as much as possible.
“We urge our customers who do not have important business matters to stay at home,” the company posted on its Twitter account, which had many replies from netizens lambasting the restriction as useless as not all companies have allowed their employees to work from home.
Crowds and long lines were also seen at MRT stations. MRT Jakarta reduced the number of cars for each train to four from the usual 16, bringing down the maximum capacity from 300 people to 60. (rien)
