Since this morning, all of the Kopajas traveling the Kampung Melayu – Tanah Abang route have been inactive.
Widodo, the deputy chief of PT Kopaja, said that the drivers of about 10-15 of the buses are on strike in protest of a new rule being enforced by the Jakarta Transportation office.
Widodo said the rule does not allow drivers on the Kampung Melayu – Tanah Abang route to turn around and stop to pick up passengers at Tanah Abang station, hurting their income.
According to the PT Kopaja deputy chief, the driver are upset because other forms of transportation have not been subjected to similar rules and so they think Kopajas are being discriminated against.
Widodo said confused passengers exiting Tanah Abang station are now forced to walk a considerable distance from the station to find a Kopaja.
Considering how much of Tanah Abang’s horrible traffic is caused by Kopaja’s lining up in front of the station, we completely understand the Transportation Department’s decision and hope they stick to their guns and don’t give in to the pressure from Kopaja drivers. Passengers and drivers can adapt, but traffic will never improve if they’re allowed to stop wherever they please.
