With the daily commute taking an extra 48 minutes, it’s no surprise that Jakartans have opted for the faster, more convenient motorcycles. But is this the solution to Jakarta’s congestion problems or are they only causing more chaos?
They are everywhere. Whizzing through the traffic or parked alongside the streets, motorcycles dominate the number of vehicles in Jakarta.
In 2012, more than 10.3 million motorcycles were registered in Indonesia, an increase of 12 per cent from the previous year. Motorcycles make up 82.4 per cent of vehicles on the road and its not hard to see why.
Last year, Jakarta was ranked 4th in the world’s worst cities for traffic congestion. During the rush hours of 5am to 8am and 5pm to 9pm most of the city is in gridlock. With congestion reaching 64 per cent in the mornings and 98 per cent in the afternoons, the average Jakartan spends an extra 184hrs per year in traffic or an extra 48 minutes daily.
A study conducted by Castrol found that drivers in the Indonesian capital are stopping and starting their cars 33,240 times per year. This contributes an estimated 70 per cent of Jakarta's air pollution and costs the Indonesian economy US$5 billion annually.
On average it takes two hours to drive 40 kms from Central Jakarta to Bogor, the sixth largest city of the Jakarta metropolitan region, where most of the office workers live. The motorcycles ability to bypass through traffic is appealing to many commuters. It's not uncommon to find motorcycles carrying a family of three or four.
“It’s faster, it’s cheaper. Especially in Jakarta” said Hari Suharso, a Jakarta tour guide.
“Like Bangkok, Istanbul and Mexico City, we prefer to have motorbikes as its efficient and quick. We can zoom pass the cars.”
But the motorcycles in Jakarta have raised safety concerns.
The Global Status Report on Road Safety 2017, revealed that there were 16,548 road traffic fatalities in Indonesia and more than 66,000 reported non-fatal injuries. More than 61 per cent of these fatalities were motorcycle commuters.
The report also noted that 93 per cent of the motorcycle drivers wear helmets and their passengers only wore a helmet 52 per cent of the time.
These safety concerns have sparked discussion for new motorbike regulations in Indonesia. The Jakarta Transportation Agency has revealed plans to place a temporary ban on motorcycles in the capital’s business district. If the trial is successful, a permanent ban on motorcycles will be legalised.
What about Jakarta's public transport?
While public transport in Jakarta is available, Jakarta's tour guide says the system is inefficient, unsafe and unreliable. Currently only 18 per cent of Jakartans use public transport due to its poor infrastructure, which has led to an increase in vehicle ownerships.
“At the moment, you can not rely in the certainty of the timing” said Hari.
“It’s very difficult to predict the traffic in Jakarta. When you can rely on the timing, maybe people will convert to the public transportation.”
In March 2019, the first phase of Jakarta’s Mass Rapid Transit will be operational, a service which is being welcomed by the locals. However, many still have their doubts whether the MRT will be a success and reduce traffic congestion.
“We are looking forward to the trainline next year, but we are unsure” said Hari.
“Even with what we have now with the train passengers being transported from the airport to Jakarta, they have problems. The number of trains is not many, so we have to wait at the station.”
“I think it’s going to be better, because everything will be open in 2019. So, there is still time to improve.”