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Editorial: Driving Force Needed On Transport Crisis
July 27, 2010

Plans are afoot to limit the amount of routes that will be open to motorcylces, with roads bearing TransJakarta Busway lanes the first to be targeted. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal) Plans are afoot to limit the amount of routes that will be open to motorcylces, with roads bearing TransJakarta Busway lanes the first to be targeted. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)
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Time is ticking away as far as solving Jakarta’s traffic woes is concerned. It is no secret that if nothing is done immediately, traffic in the capital will come to a standstill in less than 10 years, and yet the authorities seem paralyzed when it comes to coming up with a long-term solution.

What is clear is that there is a severe lack of infrastructure, not just in Jakarta but across the country.

The authorities have also realized much too late that it is imperative for a city the size of our capital to have an efficient, affordable and comfortable integrated public transport system to alleviate overloaded road system.

The long-talked about mass rapid transit system is no nearer to starting than it was 20 years ago.

The city’s laudable attempt at developing the TransJakarta busway system has been hindered by financial difficulties, inefficient planning and the general indiscipline of drivers across the city.

New roads, and over or underpasses, are desperately needed, but progress is slow and even non-existent.

In the absence of any meaningful public transport system, the public has been forced to resort to its own initiative, and for many that translates into buying their own vehicles, four- or two-wheeled, for their daily commute.

It is thus not surprising that the city has seen a surging number of new vehicles hitting the streets in the past few years. Close to 90,000 new cars and 260,000 motorcycles were registered in the first half of 2010, city data shows.

Now the authorities are studying ideas to limit motorcycles, including banning them on certain roads during rush hour.

The immediate plan is to limit the use of motorcycles on the roads along TransJakarta’s Corridor I, going from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in northern Jakarta.

Officials said that in the future, similar restrictions would be enforced along all TransJakarta routes.

The city also will encourage a “park and ride” system, where people can park their motorcycles in a lot near a busway or train station.

But like other schemes in the past, including the 3-in-1 policy for cars, this idea may or may not work, especially given the explosive growth in motorcycles over the past few years.

There is a clear need to manage this growth, and new ideas are welcomed. Piecemeal, ad hoc solutions are no longer sufficient.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the city needs a comprehensive grand design to solve its transportation woes.

The comprehensive plans must incorporate new infrastructure, better traffic management and public transport.

Most importantly, there must be a political will from all sides to work to overcome the problem.

Without this determination, nothing will be accomplished.