Road Frustrations.

[Anglian]

I wonder why the police ignore all the traffic infringements carried out by motor cyclists, little things like no crash helmet, no headlights, overloaded bikes with people and cargo, riding down the road the wrong way, the list goes on and on, and still no action

 

[waarmstrong]

I wonder why the police ignore all the traffic infringements carried out by motor cyclists, little things like no crash helmet, no headlights, overloaded bikes with people and cargo, riding down the road the wrong way, the list goes on and on, and still no action

The police do not ignore such things. They have regular and well organized traffic stop/sting operations in our Pasar Rebo Jaktim neighborhood for motors. I suspect it's a big money maker for them & more importantly a big deterrent for bike riding skoff-laws.

 

[harryopal1]

In many instances following the rules would be better but take the business of getting access to the road from a side lane or having to do a right turn where you would be waiting for a break in traffic from left or right. On busy roads you could wait all day. The local solution of edging out into the lanes is the only way out.

 

[Bad_azz]

I can complain all day about the roads & drivers here- BUT what freedom when compared to the UK & its obsession with speed cameras & CCTV -everywhere!
Surely that has to be a massive plus in the tick box for Indonesia's roads.

 

[Bad_azz]

Oh & another strange plus: The Magic Hand.
There can be several lanes of traffic moving along but as a pedestrian who wants to cross, all one has to do is whip out that Magic Hand & step out & all movement comes to a standstill... sort of, usually... the risk of the magic not working still gives me collywobbles at times though.

 

[Anglian]

The police do not ignore such things. They have regular and well organized traffic stop/sting operations in our Pasar Rebo Jaktim neighborhood for motors. I suspect it's a big money maker for them & more importantly a big deterrent for bike riding skoff-laws.

Sorry Warmie I have to disagree, we have thousands of bikes going down our main road, helmets less bike riders totally ignored, they do have an occasional stop and search, but riders are forwarned and just turn round and go back, do these stops make any road safety improvements, No, they don’t, much the same as motor bikes using the bus lanes, no matter how many stops the police carry out, the motor bikes still use the bus lanes, motor riders have little regard for the police or traffic regulations

 

[HeikkiL]

Heikkil i disagree. I think following the rules would improve traffic flow. I think breaking the rules only helps the individual but not the traffic situation as a whole

I am a civil engineer and have some experience with also traffic planning. In Jakarta / most of Jabodetabek it is just impossible to make the present number of scooters, cars, buses etc. go around in a "civilized" way. The infrastructure is what it is, streets go where they go after blocks have been built without any greater planning, pavement space has been robbed by buildings, there is no properly working mass-transit for millions of workers for morning and evening transport and so on. We all know the facts.

I come from Finland where average population density is 16/km2 and in Helsinki 1,800/km2. Urban London has 5,590/km2 and urban Paris 3,700/km2. Jakarta has 14,464/km2. Then compare the street infra and mass transits between here and there, not to mention the funds directed to infrastructure. Just imagine putting all the road vehicles of JKT daily traffic in a nice and rule-obeying two-lane street. Now would the whole length of Java be enough for it...

 

[nd_eric_77]

OK picture this: all of a sudden in Indonesia - and specially in Jakarta - everybody started following the (European / US / Aussie) traffic rules. Now THAT would be the macet of a lifetime!

This. Every time a new traffic light goes in, it causes a traffic disaster. More often than not, the newly installed light gets unceremoniously removed within a week of its installation. This exact situation happened at the intersection of the main entrance to Permata Buana in Jakarta Barat a few years ago. An intersection which takes about 30-45 seconds to pass suddenly took up to 4 minutes due to the backup.

Perhaps it is a false sense of security, but the slow speed of traffic actually makes me feel safer driving (and especially riding my bicycle) in Jakarta Barat than I feel on the roads of the US. Sure, Indonesia effectively has no concept of "right-of-way", but the end result is that every driver is responsible for how he / she interacts with every other driver. There is a much more fluid concept of "blame" (on the roads at least; fortunately, I have no experience with the traffic court system).

Plus, the old cliche that "speed kills" is true! Drivers seem to act more entitled to drive "like a bat out of hell" in countries with firmly established - and respected - right-of-way rules. They seem to forget that if a driver on a main road is driving 120 km / hr and slams into a crossing car, both drivers are likely to die; right-of-way is thenceforth only relevant to the surviving relatives of both drivers. "But, but... I had the right-of-way..." Still dead, pal!

 

[waarmstrong]

An event a few years ago = more often than not. Not particularly convincing evidence, especially when considering what happens when the power goes out to traffic light controlled intersections.

 

[Anglian]

I know that the roads are a bit crowded, but now and again an opportunity does arise where you can get a speed up, but I never heard of anyone being done for speeding and regarding right of way only the biggest and bravest have right if way

 

[waarmstrong]

Sorry Warmie I have to disagree, we have thousands of bikes going down our main road, helmets less bike riders totally ignored, they do have an occasional stop and search, but riders are forwarned and just turn round and go back, do these stops make any road safety improvements, No, they don’t, much the same as motor bikes using the bus lanes, no matter how many stops the police carry out, the motor bikes still use the bus lanes, motor riders have little regard for the police or traffic regulations

The police may not be effective where you live, but they don't ignore scoff law bikers -- too lucrative an opportunity. In my area there is no warning; that would be like killing a golden egg producing goose.

 

[R Cameron]

I vary daily between annoyed and frustrated, but the only thing that gets me truly angry and flabbergasted is the motors driving at night on unlit Kabupaten roads with absolutely no lights!!

 

[nd_eric_77]

I vary daily between annoyed and frustrated, but the only thing that gets me truly angry and flabbergasted is the motors driving at night on unlit Kabupaten roads with absolutely no lights!!

Driving at night without lights is just nuts. When riding my bicycle back from the house of a "murid-les" at night, I ALWAYS use my headlight & taillight.

 

[Anglian]

The police may not be effective where you live, but they don't ignore scoff law bikers -- too lucrative an opportunity. In my area there is no warning; that would be like killing a golden egg producing goose.

It’s a good way to get some lunch money but it hardly improves road safety and the many motor bike law breakers, I’m talking to our local policeman, two kids ride past on a motor bike, the copper never gave them a second glance

 

[waarmstrong]

It does not matter to the perps where the fine money goes, the deterrent value is the same. In my neighborhood the roadside shakedowns do seem to have an have an effect.

I do notice that on the jalan tikus2 of the neighborhood, motors overloaded with underage kids, none with helmets, are pretty common. The kids rarely tempt fate on the main roads where the police ply their trade.

 

[vocalneal]

I am curious. When I moved first to Sabah, then Sumatra and then to Thailand. I realized they would be different to what I was used to.

I didn't go around complaining about everything. I simply accepted that it was different. Or maybe deep down I always drove like they do? Maybe I'm just a bit less rigid in my outlook?

Why complain? You won't change it.

 

[R Cameron]

Why complain? You won't change it.

Why are you complaining about us complaining? You won't change it.

 

[vocalneal]

^ well I realize that as i did when i first came to Asia. They complain about the same thing on Thai forums also. The point is to realize that neither of us can change the situation so better just to relax and enjoy the palm trees and the sunshine.

I'll get my hat....

 

[Smallworld]

... it is just impossible to make the present number of scooters, cars, buses etc. go around in a "civilized" way. The infrastructure is what it is, streets go where they go after blocks have been built without any greater planning, pavement space has been robbed by buildings, there is no properly working mass-transit for millions of workers for morning and evening transport and so on. We all know the facts...

I disagree.

Eg. yesterday Bandung city jl. cipaganti, jl. cihampelas, jl. hagermanah, jl. setiabudi ...macet parah. Everyone is ignoring everyone + traffic lights and it is a super chaos. Traffic moves 1km/h I am not kidding. Later on Police arrived, divided road to make sure those who push in the last moment hoping to slip in in the queue won't make it and afraid of police are forced to make a circle...one cop on each cross road, traffic started to pick up.... 20-30 min later traffic is running way smoother ....can be done? Can.... all what it takes is iron discipline.

 

[Anglian]

If you want to see idiocy at its best try Lebak Bulas in the rain,, idiot motor cyclists sheltering under the bridge due to the rain, everyone ignores the lights, traffic from 3 lanes to one, still we made it just don’t be in a hurry