Get a taste of the city's waterways for a few cents

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 06/07/2007 9:13 AM  |  Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city's new water taxis received a cool response from residents at their Wednesday launch at Illumine pier in South Jakarta.

Both the short route the taxis serve -- a 1.7 kilometer stretch of the river -- and the heavily polluted river came in for criticism.

""The water taxis are fine but the river is full of garbage, and the route, it won't take us anywhere, anyway,"" said Ida, a resident of Halimun, South Jakarta.

Governor Sutiyoso presided over the launch at the pier, which is around 100 meters from the Halimun busway corridor.

Curious residents stood next to a small stage set up for city officials, and the crowd eventually caused traffic congestion in the area.

Sutiyoso, whose term ends in October, told the audience that he needed to make a breakthrough in anticipation of the city's future traffic problems.

""We will not see the results if we do not start right away,"" he said. ""The water taxis are only a pioneer for alternative transportation and I hope my successor will continue this project.""

He added that he wanted people to realize that rivers could also be used for transportation and would stop throwing garbage into the waterways as it interfered with the operation of the water taxis.

The Wednesday launch went smoothly, with the taxis avoiding the range of trash in the river, which included sandals, a hat, a shoe and a couch.

Rizki, 15, said that he'd take the taxi if it were free.

""But I don't want to spend all my pocket money on one trip on the water taxi,"" he said, adding that there was nothing to look at along the river.

""But if I did, I'd bring my fishing rod. Maybe I could catch a boot,"" he said to the laughter from his friends.

Hadi Sukimin, another resident, said that even though the Ciliwung River was heavily polluted, it had improved in recent months. ""It is much cleaner,"" he said, adding that he planned to take his grandson for a ride on the taxi on Saturday.

Garbage frequently clogged the taxis' motors during a test run last month.

The city administration is currently running two boats with a maximum capacity of 28 persons each in the pilot project. The two taxis run through three piers, from Halimun, through Dukuh Atas and ending at Karet.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Nurrachman said the route was chosen for the pilot project because there was a business center and office buildings in the area.

The taxis will be open to the public this weekend, operating on Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a fare of Rp 1,500 (US16 cents) per person. (05)

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