TransportationThe Bajaj are traditional vehicles that were developed in India, and then later imported into Indonesia to be built and used as public transport.
The Bajaj seats two passengers normally but can seat more if needed. The drivers aren't allowed to travell on any main roads and are only allowed to operate in their designated city. Travelling in a Bajaj is not a comfortable ride, with the ride being noisy, bumpy and smelly. Fare determination is by bargaining. It's always best to ask an Indonesian what they would pay for a trip to a particular destination from your point of departure, and then bargain and pay accordingly. There is little protection from the rain, and you must be careful in many ways, since the vehicle is open. The Indonesian government has been trying to get the Bajaj off the road, and replace it with the Kancil, which is a new way of transportation. Policemen are also on the lookout for older, non licensed Bajajs, to get them off the road The Bajaj BBG is a newer version of the Bajaj but these are more expensive. It is more comfortable, less noisy, less smokey, and use natural gas so it is friendlier to the environment. There is also the Becak. These were banned in Jakarta in 1994 due to traffic congestion and other problems. However you will still find them in the city, even though they are banned. There are also a large number of buses (bis) in Jakarta which seat 25-40 people. They are the main source of public transportation and most are in bad condition. There is a conductor at the doors of the bus, who you pay for your ride. Buses are the target for robberies, street singers and beggars. These rides are dangerous sometimes since bus drivers taking the same route try to beat eachother to the passengers waiting to get on. There are no bus stops, so the driver just stop wherever people are waiting to get a ride. There are commuter trains (Kereta Api) which run many times a day from Bogor to Jakarta. The trains are often dirty and packed with passengers. Many passengers dangerously seat themselves on top of the trains to avoid paying for the trip. There are also other trains which run to other main cities in Indonesia. Getek
|
Mini buses (Mikrolet/angkot) are found all over, seating around 9-12 people. Students in uniform receive a discount for the trip.
Motorcycle taxis (the Ojek) became popular after Becak were banned. All motorcycle passengers must wear helmets, which is stated by law, so the motorcycle drivers must have spares. These taxis usually function around smaller roads that aren't used by bus'. The Delman, (horse drawn carriages) are probably the only traditional transportation left in Jakarta, and are becoming harder to find. They are mostly used to transport goods from markets. Delman are often rented by Betawi families to take their children around the neighbourhood to celebrate circumcision. When Delman are rented for these reasons, they are usually decorated with traditional Betawi ornaments. They have also been used for many years to Cary kids around homes for Halloween to trick-or-treat. Bicycle taxis (Ojek Sepeda) operate like the Ojek except are used for smaller distances. They are seen in North Jakarta but very rarely. Before the popular transport in Jakarta used today, the resident travelled in rivers and canals in boats. Now there are still places where boatmen take people across the rivers in Perahu Penyeberangan. These are called river taxis. Getek are basically just like river taxis but are rafts, known as foot ferries. The raft is made of bamboo and the raftmen use a long bamboo stick to move the raft. There are also your average taxis. |