31 May
Commuter Communities
Change Your World is an annual campaign that takes place across the UK each June. Run by the charity, Sustrans, it encourages everyone to walk, cycle or take public transport more often because collectively it will add up to make a big difference – healthier journeys, cleaner air* and quieter streets.
Pledge to make a journey by foot, bike or public transport. Every pledge counts because, together, we’ll be attempting to clock up enough miles to complete a virtual trip around the world.
Once you’ve made your pledge you’ll also be able to tell Government they must act too – to invest more in making it easier for everyone to travel in ways that are good for our health and the environment.
OK, that's the UK sorted.
But Jakarta?
The Busway authority is working with Jakarta's commuter train overlords to introduce a ‘JakCard’ system . Apparently it's debit card which will enable commuters to transit between selected train stations and busway stops. It seems overly complicated in conception and still overlooks the fact that to get from the Sudirman station on the main road through Jakarta's business district onto the busway system involves a hike in either direction of at least half a kilometre.
At least that particular pavement (Am. sidewalk) is in fairly reasonable condition. In general though, pedestrians may like to know that City Hall agrees that the condition of Jakarta's pavements is worrisome. They devote a page to this – Kondisi trotoar di DKI mengkhawatirkan – without suggesting that they know how to deal with it.
So, as ever, it's up to the commuter communities to organise and hopefully to join forces in time for next year's campaign to Change Our World.
This is a short list of groups who offer hope through their forums (generally in Indonesian).
- Rujak.org
- Car sharing
- Bike To Work
- Train commuters
And I'll stick to taxis and buses depending on when and where (and why) I go.
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*Jakarta is in the top ten of the world's most polluted cities, but car-free days clear the air.
Ah, the Jakcard, the posesser of one of which I became yesterday. I did so following a conversation with a colleague who extolled its virtues, all I had to do was top it up, give it to the cashier for a quick swipe and away I could go travelling on Transjakarta's wonderful "Busway" system, no more hunting for small money to pay for the ticket (although why I should regard this as a benefit when the Busway is the easiest way of reducing big chunky blue or pink bank notes from the ATM into actual negotiable day to day currency I'm not entirely sure).
So it was yesterday that I purchased my card from the pleasant young lady at the Jakcard stand in Sarinah bus stop -pausing only to wonder why on earth they needed my name and phone number- and off I went on the 45 minute journey to Tegalan in Mataraman.
Having completed my business I proceeded back to the bus stop, whisked out my shiny new card to present at the ticket booth with the look of a proud new member of the club only to be dismissed by the ticket collector at the gate (yes on that route they issue paper tickets!) "Gak bole Mister", apparently the Jakcards aren't valid for all the routes of the Busway, so it can't be used for the return leg of your journey if it starts on the routes that don't have swipe machines.
Jakarta, Jakarta, I really still love you but you do know you're starting to drive me crazy don't you?
I did say, Miko, that it seems to be "overly complicated".
Mind you, I do wish that the Busway covered all of Jakarta. Last night I waited three hours for an available taxi so I could get home from the other side of the city!
Can I pose the old chestnut (if you haven’t done it yet?)
what would you do if you were given one million dollars?
Where have you been, Anong?
I posted my thoughts on this question here on 12th May.
Yeh, sorry, missed it. Nice that you brought to light the piece on long term memory. I guess Ill have to read your blog for 10 mins then watch tv,and then come back and read your blog again??
great community i guess..
i hope there will be more community which give more attention to global warming issue…
The status quo sucks.
A forum for bus users.