Having selected a lecturer from the Marine & Fisheries research center in Slipi (Central Jakarta) as my thesis advisor, I had to switch my mode of transportation from private to public. I usually travel to the campus in BSD City with my Dad, who works in Tangerang. I don't drive, and I also can't imagine having to face a series of traffic jams from my home in Puri Indah all the way to Slipi. Taking a taxi won't be a wise option for travelling daily through traffic-prone areas during the rush hour.
Fortunately, Transjakarta (state-owned busway operator) launched the feeder bus systems which serve passengers with no direct access to its stops. I can take the feeder bus from a stop in front of Puri Indah market, then alight at the busway stop in Green Garden. The feeder bus is comfortable and the bus attendants can readily assist whenever we ask about how to reach our destinations. Upon transferring buses in Green Garden to travel to Grogol, however, the real busway experience begins.
It seems that Lebak Bulus-Harmoni buses are always, always full of passengers even after the rush hour. I don't remember ever getting any seat on my way from Green Garden to Grogol, where I am to transfer buses for the 2nd time. The bus was sometimes so full, that all the hand grips were already taken and I was left standing without anything to hold on to. If people were so closely packed with each other, then balancing wouldn't be such a big deal. But when the bus made a sudden brake, there's a chance of a domino effect of people stumbling onto the backs of those in front of them.
Stepping down from the bus at the Grogol stop, a little walk is required in order to reach the line serving Pluit-Pinang Ranti. Sometimes when I saw my bus coming while I was still on my way to the stop, I decided to dash for it if I saw no more bus coming up. But it all depends on the mood, if I feel too lazy to run then I'll just let the bus go and wait for another one. There are more buses operating on this line and there are also articulated buses to carry more passengers in a go, so rushing is unnecessary. Seats are often available, but not in the case of early morning rush hour. One experience of travelling during the peak hour was enough to tell me that there's actually not much difference between Lebak Bulus-Harmoni and Pluit-Pinang Ranti lines.
What I like about the busway system is the affordable ticket that allows the passengers to travel as far and as much as they want without exiting the shelter. Any questions regarding which bus line to take can be directed at the bus attendants standing guard by the bus doors. These bus attendants do their job well; they direct the flow of passengers boarding and alighting the bus, they assist the elderly and parents with kids so that they can get seats and they alert us of the upcoming bus stop. What I dislike about the ride is not the service, it's actually some of the passengers. Going back to the issue about hand grips, some people seem so inconsiderate of others. On my way to Grogol from Green Garden today, I didn't get a hand grip and saw a woman beside me holding two hand grips with both her hands. Oh man... Another hateful sight I experienced was a mother holding a baby and queuing to get on a bus, but always got left behind because no one cared about letting her get on the bus first.
Anyhow, I love travelling by Transjakarta bus. I can go wherever I want without having to rely on others, I can spend as much time as I want in a place without worrying about the hourly-based parking fee and one can also see and learn about many characters of the people.
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