Motorcyclists preparing for the long trip home for Idul Fitri. Source: Wikimedia
Jakarta City Council Chairman Prasetyo Edi Marsudi said cheap credit was contributing to Jakarta’s motorcycle macet madness, with more and more riders from Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi flooding the capital’s streets.
According to Edi, the number of motorcycles in Greater Jakarta has reached 12.1 million. “Now credit for motorcycles is so easy and inexpensive to get. With a down payment of just Rp 250,000 you can get auto loans,” he said on Sunday as quoted by Kompas.
In satellite cities such as Bekasi, Depok and Tangerang, motorcyclist use Jakarta license plates but pay their motor vehicle taxes (PKB) to their local city governments. Meaning Jakarta cannot use that tax money to build more facilities to accommodate all the new motorcycles on its roads
That’s why Edi said he agreed with Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s controversial ban on motorcycles along Jakarta’s main thoroughfare (which will go into effect this Wednesday). He said that would at least decrease the load on those main streets.
“The amount is not significant, but it will still reduce the volume of vehicles,” Edi said.
However, the chairman of the City Council still urged the Jakarta government to improve public transport services in the capital. He said the Transjakarta busway was not a reliable option for most people due to the lack of buses in the fleet.
“The new Busway are only being used on the main routes. Other transport corridors are generally inadequate. Citizens still feel insecure and uncomfortable. It’s a task the Transportation Department needs to work on,” he said.
