Indonesia Public Transportation

This Becak on Java | One of Indonesian transportation

Public transportation is very important in every country. Because without public transportation will difficult to do daily activity to go to other destination. Indonesia also has public transportation. Transportation is a necessity that can’t be separated in their daily lives. That is why human daily activities could not be separated from transport, be it human itself, goods, pets, mail, and others. 

Although Indonesia public transportation still far from comfortable zone but this transportation very helpful for people who don’t have own transportation to do their activity, including tourist who want to be backpacker to visit every part islands in Indonesia.

Let’s introduce you kind of public transportation in Indonesia, but not all cities or area in Indonesia has same kind transportation.

DELMAN

Delman is a traditional means of transportation on animal powered by the horse. Delman has wheels 2, 3 and 4. From the past until now delman has the same shape, although some are replacing the wheels with tires. Delman is now used as a transport environment within a short journey or a major character in the rural regional inter-village.

However, in some areas, especially the tourist area, Delman allowed to operate, by following the rules of hygiene such as urban reservoirs for horse manure. To that end, Delman are numbered as in the numbering of motor vehicles issued by the Local Government.

For Delman just has in Java area, in other place in Indonesia like Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and other island in Indonesia, That city don’t have delman as public transportation. Another name for Delman, that is Andong and Dokar, the different just for wheels.

BECAK | Becak Paddle and Becak Motor

Becak is one public transportation which still exist till this time. Becak is the three-wheel mode of transportation that generally found in Indonesia and some of Asia. Becak fit two passengers comfortably and possibly even more, depending on the size of the passenger. There is some protection from the sun and a plastic sheet that comes down over the front helps protect passengers during rainstorms.

 Every city has different style of becak. Becak also has different style depend on the town/city in Indonesia, the most becak can find in Java and Sumatera.  For example Becak with the driver behind passengers, find in Java, becak with the driver seating side passengers can find in Sumatera.

Becak also has two sub-kinds that is the paddle becak (becak that used the bicycle as the rudder) and Motorized becak (becak that used the motorcycle as the rudder).

OJEK

Ojek is a unique land transportation or you can call motorbike taxi. At least there are only a few state transportation and even then only in some area. Ojek is a transportation that used the motor as the vehicle and carry 1 to 2 passengers.

Ojek don’t have some specification companies or institutions that deal. Ojek does not have specification route and the cost different in each place. There is ojek transportation can find in some cities and in small areas. Speed, low cost and practical advantages of ojek.

Ojek are not protected when rain and heat. By law and protected all motorcycle passengers should wear helmets. Then ojek drivers should have a spare for you to wear. Ojek tend to congregate at t-junctions on main roads and near smaller roads that are not serviced by bus routes.

     OJEK SEPEDA

Ojek sepeda is mean bike and this is rarely to seen. This transportation just has in areas of Jakarta outside Kota and Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. Ojek Sepeda “bicycle taxis” operate much like ojek, except for shorter distances.

ANGKUTAN KOTA (Angkot)

Many name for Angkutan Kota (Angkot) public transportation in Indonesia. This transportation is small vans or mini buses that serve set routes on smaller main roads. The Angkor seat around 9 – 12 people, depending on the type and the payment depend on the distance.

Some city used direction name place or number. For example in Bandung, they used destination like ST Hall – Lembang. In Jakarta, they used number for direction. For example M44 to direction Kampung Melayu – Casablanca – Karet Tengsin. The point is every city in Indonesia has different clue for angkot. In some city such as Makassar, angkot not only offer a route to around the city. Some angkot also offer cross-town or cross-city for their route. Usually they have different color, example like blue for city route and red for cross-town, including the name angkot for every city different.

Angkot doesn’t have bus stop, it can stop everywhere depends on passenger’s destination. To stop just say kiri (key re), which means ‘left’ because in Indonesia we ride on the left side. For other way, you can knock the roof or ring the bell if they provide it in the back. This situation makes some traffic jam, moreover if angkot stop for a long time to take more passengers, which we know it as ngetem. Sometimes it takes 10 or even 30 minutes depends on how many passengers the driver wants to find. The price angkot cheaper and the price depend on short way or long way. But all the price angkot the government make the rule.

BEMO

This transportation little noisy and also used vehicle, that is name is the bemo. Which is ued for local transportation in limited areas in Jakarta. Bemo are found in and near Benhil, Tanjung Priok, Kramat Jati (some Jakarta area) and other areas outside Jakarta.

BAJAJ

Bajaj in Indonesia has color bright orange and the sound is very noisy. These traditional transportation vehicles became popular in India where they were developed with Vespa and later imported to and built in Indonesia. Similar vehicles are known as rickshaw in Africa, Tuk-Tuk in Thailand and MotoTaxi in Peru.

Bajaj seat two passengers comfortably and up to four passengers - depending on the size of the passenger of course. Their areas of operation are limited to one mayoralty in the city. On the side of the driver's doors you'll see a big circle in which the area is designated.  The drivers are not allowed to go out of their area and aren't allowed onto many main roads, so routes may be a bit circuitous.

There is some protection from the rain, unless it's blowing hard. You'd think you'd have to be careful about robbery since the vehicle is so open. But it's not as common as robberies in buses.

Government around 2006 has new version of Traditional Bajaj that’s with light blue color, less noisy, less smoky and more comfortable when compare with the old one. Because Bajaj BBG use natural gas and environmentally friendly.

BIS (BUS)

There are a large number bus companies servicing routes in big city. That is like Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and some part in Indonesia. Many of the larger buses seat around 25-40 people, that is depending on type of bus. The buses have set prices (which should be posted on the bus), some people in Java call bus with Damri bus.

Many kind buses because many private companies and it also include Metro Mini. The price for used this service also different price. Some buses have air conditioned like Mayasari and Patas AC; they are more expensive. Other bus lines are run by cooperatives like Kopaja and Kopami.

All buses have set routes and set fares, but not set schedules. If you're not sure of the fare, ask other passengers what it is. Pay to the conductor, who is usually hanging out the back door. He won't have change for big bills.

Bus passengers are often the target for robberies, street singers, and beggars on the buses and in the major bus terminals. Many bus drivers are notoriously dangerous as they race against each other to try and pick up passengers before the other buses plying the same route. Metro Mini has the worst reputation for poor drivers.

Buses do not necessarily stop at bus stops; they stop wherever they can pick up a passenger be it in the middle of the road or on a busy intersection. Buses do not necessarily come to a complete stop for passengers to get off and on. So be careful as to which foot you step off the bus with! The beginning and end points of each bus route are found on the front and back of each bus, along with a route number. If you don't know which bus to take, just ask the people at the bus stop.

TAXI

Taxi is a popular transport at this time. Almost country can find a taxi, it's just different types of vehicles, rates, system, and comfort. Cab has a different tariff system at any time, it is depending on the mileage goals. This transport is superior because the passenger can request destination anywhere the name is taken from the taximeter taxis, which is a tool that serves to determine the amount of fees to be paid by passengers based on the distance to the goal.

These vehicles are usually in the form of a sedan taxi which has above average comfort. so that passengers can indulge. Different in each country, each has a regulation concerning the working operating cab. But be careful some taxi don’t used taximeter. So ask first if they used it. Especially some taxi in Bandung, they don’t used this taximeter. So just beware, including in Jakarta when in the midnight time sometimes they won’t use taximeter. Ask first before using taxi.

KERETA API (TRAIN)

A computer train (kereta api) runs several times daily from Bogor to Jakarta. These trains are quite simply furnished and often quite dirty. Scores of passengers brave the dangers and seat themselves atop the trains to avoid paying the fares.

Trains to other major cities on Java leave Jakarta from train stations at Gambir, Tanah Abang and Senen. Different classes of service are available, with the first class or executive class being quite comfortable. Some trains are bookable in advance. Trains are a good transportation option for inter-city travel on a budget. Information on train schedules can be found on the kereta api website. The train city to city just exist in Java area only and including some part outside Java like Lampung but this destination rare.