Indonesian civil servants in Jakarta are criticizing a new policy mandating the use of public transportation, citing concerns about convenience, safety, and efficiency. Here's a breakdown of the likely criticisms and context: **Likely Criticisms from Civil Servants:** * **Inconvenience:** * **Longer Commute Times:** Many civil servants may live far from the city center and find that public transport adds significantly to their commute time, compared to using private vehicles. * **Multiple Transfers:** Depending on their location, they may need to take multiple modes of transport (bus, train, TransJakarta) which can be cumbersome and time-consuming. * **Limited Coverage:** Some areas may not be well-served by public transport, leaving civil servants with a "last mile" problem – needing to walk a significant distance after getting off public transport. * **Infrequent Service:** Some routes might have infrequent service, leading to long waiting times, especially during off-peak hours. * **Safety Concerns:** * **Overcrowding:** Public transport in Jakarta, especially during peak hours, is often severely overcrowded, leading to discomfort and potential safety hazards (pickpocketing, etc.). * **Security:** Concerns about crime and harassment, particularly for female civil servants, on public transport. * **Accidents:** While efforts have been made to improve safety, the perception of safety on public transport may still be a concern. * **Efficiency and Reliability:** * **Traffic Congestion:** Public transport, while intended to alleviate traffic, can still be affected by it, particularly buses sharing roads with private vehicles. Delays due to traffic congestion can make it difficult for civil servants to arrive at work on time. * **System Reliability:** Concerns about breakdowns, service disruptions, and unexpected changes to routes. * **Coordination:** Issues with coordination between different modes of transport (e.g., bus schedules not aligning with train arrivals). * **Cost:** * While likely designed to be cost-effective in the long run, some civil servants, especially those living further from the city center and requiring multiple connections, might find the overall cost of public transport exceeding the cost of using their own vehicles (considering fuel, tolls, and parking). * Concerns about subsidies and potential future price increases. * **Perceived Status/Inconvenience:** * In some societies, there's a perceived social status associated with owning a car. Using public transport might be seen as less desirable by some civil servants. * Loss of personal space and privacy compared to driving a personal vehicle. **Context and Rationale for the Mandate:** * **Reduce Traffic Congestion:** Jakarta suffers from severe traffic congestion, which negatively impacts productivity, air quality, and the overall economy. Encouraging public transport use is a key strategy to alleviate this. * **Improve Air Quality:** Reducing the number of private vehicles on the road can significantly improve air quality in Jakarta. * **Promote Public Transport Investment:** Increased ridership will help justify further investment in expanding and improving the public transport system. * **Lead by Example:** The government wants to show its commitment to public transport by having its employees use it. * **Reduce Parking Demand:** Less private vehicle use translates to less demand for parking spaces in government buildings, potentially freeing up valuable space. **Possible Government Responses and Mitigation Strategies:** * **Improving Public Transport Infrastructure:** Investing in new routes, more frequent service, and better integration between different modes of transport. * **Ensuring Safety and Security:** Increasing security personnel on public transport and improving lighting in stations and bus stops. * **Subsidized Fares:** Providing subsidized fares for civil servants to make public transport more affordable.
Telegraph
Indonesian civil servants in Jakarta are criticizing a new p…
This news report from the SCMP's Asia desk discusses a new policy in Jakarta aimed at reducing traffic congestion by requiring civil servants to use public transport every Wednesday. Here's a breakdown of the key points: * **Policy:** All civil servants in…
