In early 2016, Jakarta’s long running three-in-one traffic rule, designed to encourage carpooling by only allowing cars with at least 3 passengers to use major roads during rush hour, was abolished by then governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama amidst fears it was encouraging child exploitation. About one year ago, an odd-even regulation was enacted to replace the three-in-one.
The new regulation, which only allows cars with license plates ending in odd numbers to drive through the main thoroughfares of Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jalan Sudirman, Jalan Thamrin, and part of Jalan Gatot Subroto on odd-numbered days (and vice versa for even-numbered days) during rush hours, has been declared a success by Ahok’s temporary successor, Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who said the government would expand its coverage area soon.
“The odd-even is even more effective than the three-in-one, more easily implemented and the public is more aware of its use,” Djarot said today as quoted by Kompas.
Recently, the Jakarta administration has taken a lot of criticism about its plans to expand the motorcycle bans on certain roads in the capital, which some have argued is a form of discrimination against motorcyclists. Djarot argued that the odd-even system, which only applies to cars, proves that the government is working to limit the use of all private vehicles, two and four wheelers, while also encouraging people to switch to public transport.
Djarot said the proven success of the odd-even meant the government would expand it to another major road, Jalan Rasuna Said, which is also being affected by the construction of the new transportation projects like the MRT. He said the regulation would eventually be halted when construction was finally complete, but until then it was necessary to prevent traffic from grinding to a standstill.
One bit of good news for drivers who are having to deal with getting around the odd-even rule is that users of traffic navigation app Waze can now tell the program if their car is odd or even and get directions that take into account the traffic policy.
