Tourists ILFIL

[harryopal1]

Just watching this morning's TV news with the Minister for Tourism expressing his concern that tourists are ILFIL (disgusted) with illegal motorbike parking. I am also ILFIL with the casual parking of motorbikes on the footpath needing me to step into the path of oncoming traffic to continue on up the street and having to dodge motor bikes using the footpath to get path slow traffic.

The story was split screen with the Minister's smiling face and police seizing motorbikes and arresting owners who resisted. All very well for the Minister who doubtless goes everywhere with a chauffeured car and road cleared ahead by police escort. I feel so sorry for the motorbike owners and mobile warung owners who get swept away in this manner every now and then. So simple to use force when there is no planning to provide for people to park bikes or cars and those little roadside stalls. It is an immense problem with now millions of bikes and cars with nowhere to park and the cost of sweeping away buildings to provide parking would involve enormous costs.

So while it irritates me each time a motorbike rider just casually parks with his bike across the footpath, it is what it is. I am not sure what the procedure is for owners of these confiscated bikes. I presume they pay some kind of fine. Anyone familiar with this? Any ideas how to provide a solution for this massive national problem? (Apart from shooting trespassers.)

 

[jstar]

Yeah, try to walk from the Bypass Ngurah RAI to Sindhu beach in Sanur for instance. Or in Seminyak, Kuta, or …

Of course public transportation in Bali is extremely bad. Some buses that take forever between Jimbaran and Tabanan and Sanur via Kuta. That is something the minister might try to do something about with his colleague.

There are probably more motorbikes in Jakarta but there they are less visible / annoying when parked. Unless it’s a Friday.

 

[Balifrog]

Sanur is ok.
Well, I lived in HCMC and BKK, can't get much worse than that.
What i find ridiculous is parking space in front of restaurants being 100% occupied by the staff's bikes.....

 

[harryopal1]

Sanur is ok.
Well, I lived in HCMC and BKK, can't get much worse than that.
What i find ridiculous is parking space in front of restaurants being 100% occupied by the staff's bikes.....

Of course. But as with everywhere, it seems, where do staff safely park their bikes?

 

[Balifrog]

Of course. But as with everywhere, it seems, where do staff safely park their bikes?

Indeed that's the issue. And don't expect the business owner to pay for the parking nearby....

 

[Shadrach]

This a classic post! Due to the population explosion, for thirty years, everyone and their cousin has a car, or motorbike! They sell off the rice fields, and build crappy quality villa's. With dreams of riches from the tourist! As for the roads, it's a dog, eat dog mentality, that only being a jerk can someone survive! Organization, is not a word in this countries language! Common Sense? What's that? Everyone should just start kicking all the bikes blocking the paths, out of the way! Or dream that the Police will start confiscating the bikes, with a penalty to pay, to get it back! Hah!
The problem with that, is they are doing it also! Welcome to the land of the Frogs!

 

[Balifrog]

This a classic post! Due to the population explosion, for thirty years, everyone and their cousin has a car, or motorbike! They sell off the rice fields, and build crappy quality villa's. With dreams of riches from the tourist! As for the roads, it's a dog, eat dog mentality, that only being a jerk can someone survive! Organization, is not a word in this countries language! Common Sense? What's that? Everyone should just start kicking all the bikes blocking the paths, out of the way! Or dream that the Police will start confiscating the bikes, with a penalty to pay, to get it back! Hah!
The problem with that, is they are doing it also! Welcome to the land of the Frogs!

If you think Bali is bad concerning bikes try Bangkok or Pattaya....

 

[Jaime C]

If you think Bali is bad concerning bikes try Bangkok or Pattaya....

I’ve never seen anyplace worse than Saigon. Cambodia was pretty bad, too.

 

[Hawk256]

I’ve never seen anyplace worse than Saigon. Cambodia was pretty bad, too.

Crossing the road in HCMC is the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. Just start walking and keep the same pace and direction and somehow the traffic swarm will avoid you. A blindfold would have been nice though for my fist time. Talk about nervous. Cambodia wasn't so bad the last time I was there. Not in my top 5 craziest roads anyway.

 

[Pak Tani]

Of course. But as with everywhere, it seems, where do staff safely park their bikes?

I think they do this on purpose. Extra bikes parked in front a shop or warung gives the impression that there are many customers (so the place must serve good food/sell good stuff.)

 

[fastpitch17]

Ombudsman in Bandar Lampung has given a phone number out to photograph and locate illegal parking and send via WhatsApp. Police are checking 3 times a week for illegal parkers. A lot of stopping on the street to go into some business and blocking a half to full lane of traffic. Hopefully this will remedy a lot of it. No tickets yet, just the we'll be nice for now actions.

 

[Balifrog]

Crossing the road in HCMC is the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. Just start walking and keep the same pace and direction and somehow the traffic swarm will avoid you. A blindfold would have been nice though for my fist time. Talk about nervous. Cambodia wasn't so bad the last time I was there. Not in my top 5 craziest roads anyway.

Worked in HCMC for 18 months in 2008.
Yes, crossing the street is a bit of an experience, but as you said, face the traffic, progress slowly and don't make any sudden move. They will all avoid you.
With a car, you feel like a whale in the middle of a pack of sardines. Good I had a driver !

 

[jstar]

It strikes me that most people complaining here about large cities have never lived in Jakarta?

 

[Hawk256]

It strikes me that most people complaining here about large cities have never lived in Jakarta?

In Jakarta for 6 years. Other then taking an hour to go up the street and make a uturn, it does't stand out.

 

[jstar]

It’s all between the ears. If HCMC has 7 million bikes on the road, Jakarta has 17,5 million. And Bali a measly 2,5 Juta. But I see there more motor related accidents (with tourists or driving over trotoar and against traffic) than in Jakarta.

 

[Shadrach]

I went into Ubud today, and it took almost an hour, just to get from Blanco museum, to the Statue at the other end, of Jalan Raya! The roads were packed with dozens of empty taxis for hire, with license plates from Java! Also there were dozens of Grab, and Gojek, motorbikes! It was not Tourist! causing this traffic jam, but tons of Indonesian drivers, with their oversized SUV's, and all the young ones, on motorbikes! Sadly, It was not the Ubud from thirty years ago! I saw this coming back when there were only Bemo's and Jimny's! And no SUV's and few motorbikes!
Is this progress? I'm not so sure?

 

[nd_eric_77]

I went into Ubud today, and it took almost an hour, just to get from Blanco museum, to the Statue at the other end, of Jalan Raya! The roads were packed with dozens of empty taxis for hire, with license plates from Java! Also there were dozens of Grab, and Gojek, motorbikes! It was not Tourist! causing this traffic jam, but tons of Indonesian drivers, with their oversized SUV's, and all the young ones, on motorbikes! Sadly, It was not the Ubud from thirty years ago! I saw this coming back when there were only Bemo's and Jimny's! And no SUV's and few motorbikes!
Is this progress? I'm not so sure?

Did you know that you can end sentences with a period ( . ) instead of an exclamation point? Sorry, couldn't resist!!!

 

[Shadrach]

Did you know that you can end sentences with a period ( . ) instead of an exclamation point? Sorry, couldn't resist!!!

Yep, I shore did. I even graduated from the sixth grade. So ya'll see, I got me an edumacation!

 

[centurion]

I’ve never seen anyplace worse than Saigon. Cambodia was pretty bad, too.

Was is Saigon last year. Looks like Paris comparing to Jakarta.

 

[centurion]

It strikes me that most people complaining here about large cities have never lived in Jakarta?

Jakarta is the champion in these matters.