Jammed Jakarta: a History of Sprawling Growth and Poor Planning

It was a simpler Jakarta, and one now lost in time. Newly-independent Indonesia’s capital was abuzz with optimism and nationalist fever in the late 1940s — not to mention the sound of electric trolleys rolling through the city center and out to Menteng, which then was just a suburb.

Have Current Policies Eased Jakarta's Traffic Jams?

In an attempt to confront Jakarta's transportation problems, successive governors have applied a series of policies. Have recent moves, from the busway to 3-in-1 restrictions and car-free Sundays, helped? We take a look.

Do-It-Yourself Jakarta Traffic Solutions: Walk, Bike, Share a Car or Even Fly

Excruciating traffic jams and uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous public transportation have pushed some of us in Greater Jakarta to breaking point. But instead of losing hope, some enterprising people have found other modes of transportation. Here are some of the alternatives, depending on how much time, energy and money you have.

Will Jakarta's MRT Arrive?

Bangkok has one. So does New Delhi. Even Manila has a light rail system and Mexico City is building one, too. So why doesn’t Jakarta, a Group of 20 nation and emerging global player, have a mass rapid transit (MRT) system?

Too Many Vehicles, Too Few Roads

No single person or agency can be blamed for a collective failure of urban leadership and planning that dates back at least to the 1960s. This has led to what we have today: a city that’s barely tolerable because of traffic problems brought on by rapid growth, poor public transportation and too many cars.

Easy Riders: But the Ojek and Bajaj Brigade Find it Hard to Make Ends Meet

The commuter train arrived at Jakarta's Juanda station near the State Palace at 12:30 p.m. As the passengers left, they were mobbed by at least 200 men chorusing, “Ojek! Ojek!”

Metro Mini Madness: Crazy Drivers and Commuter Hell

The Facebook entry summed it up. “Stupid Metro Mini driver, picking up passengers at a level train crossing,” wrote the incensed Jakartan.

Taking the Car: It Chokes Me, But It's a Status Symbol, Right?

Ajeng's office in Palmerah, West Jakarta, is only a few hundred meters from a train station, and she lives in Bintaro, South Jakarta, just five minutes away from a station. Still, Ajeng has never taken the train to work and likely never will. She prefers to go in her chauffeur-driven car even though she spends at least an hour each way in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Trains Are Hell, When They Run

According to a study by the Indonesian Transportation Society, a vehicle traveling in Jakarta on a single trip will spend 60 percent of its time stopped because of traffic. Commuter trains seem a promising way to save time and money, as well as help alleviate Greater Jakarta’s famous traffic gridlock. So why isn’t everybody riding the train?

Riding the Train: a Torturous Journey of Desparation

I didn’t buy a ticket for the economy-class Jakarta-Bogor commuter train because I wanted to; it was just the next train that was leaving the station. I didn’t want to wait a half-hour for an air-conditioned train, which turned out to be a nearly-fatal mistake.

'You Can Count on Me' Former Bank Indonesia Governor Tells Bank Century Meeting