The only way that Jakarta will ever overcome it’s massive macet problem is if a large percentage of commuters decide to take public transportation instead of private vehicles. While more people are using the Transjakarta busway system than ever before, the government is still coming up with new ways to encourage more people to get on board.
One of those ways has been to give students and residents of the capital’s low-cost housing complexes the right to free rides on the Transjakarta. And Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama recently confirmed to reporters that elderly Jakarta citizens (over the age of 60) and the disabled could now also receive free ride privileges.
“Yes (the elderly can now ride for free), just ask Transjakarta. Passenger with disabilities also (may ride for free),” Ahok said at City Hall yesterday as quoted by Liputan6.
The head of public relations for Transjakarta, Prasetia Budi, confirmed to Kompas that elderly citizens would need to show that Jakarta ID card to clerks at Busway stations in order to confirm their over-60 status and get their free rides, but did not mention what the policy was in regards to disabled passengers.
