Who Has to be Responsible for the Better TransJakarta

                    Transjakarta Busway is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia.           It is the first BRT system in Southern and Southeast Asia. Transjakarta Busway has    been operated since 2004. It began the operation on January 25, 2004.                 Transjakarta Busway has served twelve corridors as long as 184, 31 kilo meters. It has the world’s longest BRT routes (172 km in length) and has more than 669 buses in operation.

During nine years, the operational of this busway has not done well yet. There are some problems from the bus itself and the operational. Gubernur Jakarta, Jokowi said there were three main problems that should be solved soon (taken from http://metro.news.viva.co.id/news/read/370337-jokowi--masalah-busway-yang-belum-rampung)

The first problem was the lack of TransJakarta busway amount. Jokowi said that the amount of TransJakarta busway should be added. Besides that, the facilities of it should be repaired and completed. Many buses have technical issues such as broken doors and stop buttons. There are many accidents involving TransJakarta buses. Then, there are many riders which pass the busway line.

The second problem was the issue of the vehicles which pass the busway line. Nowadays, it was the main concern discussed by many people. During this time, there are many riders which pass the busway line though it is not the right way for vehicles except the busway. The busway operational time will be longer than before and it causes the pile up of the passenger.

Actually, the policemen have been keeping the busway line to make it clean from another vehicle. They also used portal to avoid the entry of another riders. However, the using of portal does not work effectively. There are still some riders who go into the busway line through the road pavement.

Why does society is relatively easy to commit violation of busway line? That is because there is no decisive law and punishment for the society. Actually, there is a fine for those who violate the rule, but there are still many vehicles which go into busway line. The fine is about fifty thousand rupiah until one hundred thousand rupiah. It is the big amount, isn’t it? Why does the society do not think that they will be punished and get fine for the violation?  They should think it over and over again since the fine for every violation.

Actually, it is not the failure of the system, but rather a problem of coordination between the Pemda DKI, Kepolisian, Kejaksaan, and Pengadilan. Their coordination is hard to be implemented.

Regarding this problem, the government of Jakarta works cooperatively with Polda Metro Jaya to conquer it. Since September 2013, they have implemented new rule in a purpose to sterilize the busway line, it is “busway sterilization (sterilisasi busway) “ program. Hopefully, this program will be the important lesson for the society to obey the law.  

            In this “busway sterilization (sterilisasi busway)” program, there are some policemen who will oversee the busway line. The people who still go into busway line will be punished and get fine one million rupiahs. The amount of the fine is no longer fifty thousand rupiah until one hundred thousand rupiah. Now it becomes one million rupiah. Kepolisian has socialized about this new fine to the society.

This program has purpose to make TransJakarta busway can operate freely in its own line without disturbance from other vehicles which go into busway line, to reduce the traffic jam in Jakarta and to make the society aware of the rule’s importance. TransJakarta busway line is only for the busway itself. Another vehicle should go through the right street.          

However, this program is not easy to do. There are still many people who disobey the rule. They still go into the busway line though it is not their right street. Even there are some people who reverse the flow. This sterilization program needs seriousnees and effort from many sides. There are many busway lines that should be kept. The government should also think the other ways between busway sterilization.

The writer has several suggestions for the better TransJakarta busway and to reduce the traffic jam in Jakarta. The first one is adding more busways to operate. As the busway amount increases, it will reduce the traffic jam in Jakarta because it reduces the using of private vehicles. Besides that, adding more busways will suppress the buildup passengers since it still happens in many bus stops. This suggestion is for the government of Jakarta.

Then, the second one is monitoring the busway line by CCTV. CCTV (Closed-circuit television) is a video camera to monitor a specific place. The CCTV can be placed in every bus stop. By monitoring the busway line from CCTV, the police will record everything happens in the busway line as well as the riders who go into the busway line. Then, the police can write the number of the vehicle, so, when the police catches the rider, he can show the proof by playing the CCTV recording. To implement this way, the policemen should monitor the CCTV carefully and always be in around the busway line.

The third one is increasing vehicle tax. If the vehicle tax is getting more expensive, the people will tend to use public transportation or use busway to go.

The fourth one is adding the amount of TransJakarta shelter. It is needed to decrease the build up of passengers waiting for TransJakarta busway.

All of writer’s suggestions above and the busway sterilization from the government cannot work well without socialization to the society and well cooperation among Kepolisian, government, Kejaksaan, and Pengadilan. 

They should work together to implement the busway sterilization which is still running on. The writer hopes they can work cooperatively and the society will be more aware to obey the rule, so that there is no traffic jam in Jakarta anymore and the society can drive safely. As well as the society that has to obey all rules 

like not to go into the busway line, not to destroy TransJakarta busway facilities, etc. So, it is not only government and police’s obligation to overcome TransJakarta busway problems, but also needs the society’s obligation.

BY: MARIA DEA W.