VIVAnews - While serving as Mayor of Bogota during the period of 1998-2001, Enrique Penalosa successfully brought changes to public transportation services by introducing the Bus Rapid Transportation (BRT) system.
Officially opened in 2002, the system called Trans Millenio could significantly eliminate traffic congestion and provide fast-moving public transportation in the capital city of Colombia.
Trans Millenio has inspired city councils throughout the world, including Jakarta which established fast-paced bus ways in 2004.
During his administration, Penalosa implemented several radical regulations that include closing main streets for a few hours on Sundays for private vehicles to allow people retreating, working out and biking on the streets given the limited public spaces in Bogota.
Penalosa is now working as an urban development consultant. He has been touring various countries to introduce a humane urban development system in favor of people in every level.
While visiting Jakarta earlier this week, Penalosa was invited to a discussion session on urban transportation development as a panelist.
The Washington DC-born former mayor took a time to chat with two VIVAnews reporters, Anda Nurlaila and Pipiet Tri Noorastuti, on mass transportation development in Jakarta.
Why is public transportation important to a city?
Every citizen has the right to use transportation. Transportation for all citizens is the symbol of democracy. Thirty thousand bikes are as important as thirty thousand cars. They are important to create tracks for everybody, for bikers, pedestrians and motorists.
How do you perceive transportation in Jakarta?
In Jakarta, people are ashamed of biking because bicycles are considered modes of transportation for the poor. If there are decent bikeways, people would have a choice. Thirty-five percent of their income is spent on transportation.
Public transportation is supposed to be useful in improving people’s wealth. Streets should have spaces for their users; pedestrians, bikers, bus drivers and car drivers. There should be a strong political will from the government, not just technical matters.
How to impose such idea?
It should be coming from the system. People must be encouraged to do it. Now, everybody has cars and motorbikes and they use them to go to work, shopping centers and downtown. In the end, the density caused discomfort and traffic jams.
In developed countries, people walk from their homes to work which is only a few blocks away. In those countries, there are not any shopping centers downtown because it would be uncomfortable for people to walk around. But, in countries like Indonesia, Colombia and other third world countries, the towns are messy and shopping malls are located in the center.
What do you think about the idea of building bus ways and mass rapid transit (MRT) in Jakarta?
Developing public transportation could be done in many ways. Establishing subways or bus ways are a good idea. What needs to be considered is the investment. Jakarta is planning to spend US$ 900 million to build a 14 km-long subway. As for bus ways, the investment is worth US$ 5 million which includes consultants, managerial, contracts, operators, electronic card bases and legal consultants. For the same price, US$ 900 million, a 180 km-long BRT way could be made.
But, it seems that BRT does not eliminate congestion. What do you think?
Congestion and mobility are two different issues that have different solutions as well. Every year, there are 100.000 new cars and a few new tracks in Jakarta. But, there is still congestion because of the increase in people’s mobility and distance.
Congestion is not only caused by the number of cars, but also the number of trips. Additional tracks would not reduce congestion.
There are also safety and comfort issues. In London, a lot of women feel it is not safe to be in a subway. On buses, they feel safer because they can watch around. Trains are faster but train stations are far away from each other.
Buses are slower but with one ticket, someone can go somewhere distant and there are busway intersections which allow people to change routes.
After five years of operation, bus way services or TransJakarta buses have not been considered successful. Why do you think that happens?
Establishing TransJakarta should be done upon the will to survive. Jakarta is the first city in Asia that utilizes BRT. But now, Guangzhou in China has a good BRT system.
I think Jakarta could be better. The solution is improving TransJakarta.
Have you tried TransJakarta?
I tried TransJakarta twice. I think the doors are not big enough for people on wheelchairs. It would be hard for the disabled.
The waiting time is also longer. In Bogota, we use buses that can carry more passengers. For each trip, we can use up to three linked conventional buses. BRT is also integrated with small feeder buses that take people to the stations. But they do not have any special track.
Any suggestion for TransJakarta?
There should be more detailed changes. I think the experts should get together to discuss about contracts, management and operators to improve TransJakarta. Working on transportation issues in Jakarta, where congestion occurs all the time, is not fun.
But, someone should do it. It is like curing cancer. The governor’s priority is assigning the manager of TransJakarta in front of his office so that he could always be supervised.
Any suggestion to overcome congestion in Jakarta?
Narrow streets and busways contribute to more traffic jams. In New York, there are 10 lanes and traffic jams are always there.
The government should prioritize buses in public transportation. Right now every driver in Jakarta thinks they are more important than any other drivers.
One tiny example, motorbikes are not allowed in highways. Why? Because they do not have economic and political strength. There is not any equality here while every citizen is legally protected.
After Trans Millenio was introduced in Bogota, has there been any cutback in numbers of cars?
No. In Bogota, Trans Millenio is only 20 percent and the rest are conventional transportation. But, 40 percent of BRT users in Bogota are car owners. The 60 km-long BRT carries one million passengers per day.
In cities like London and Paris, they use public transport because they have to. Aside from limited parking space, public transport is much faster. It takes them an hour to drive while with public transport, they only need 15 minutes. Although they have cars, they still prefer mass transportation. In order to boost mobility, public transportation must be added.
What are the solutions to traffic congestion?
Cutting back the use of cars. In London, Paris and Hong Kong, people have to pay US$20 tax to get to downtown. The governments also limit numbers of parking lots in buildings. Parking is a personal issue and not the country’s obligation. Countries are required to provide education, health-care and transportation, including pedestrian paths.
Another way is by increasing fuel taxes. Like for water and electricity, rich people pay more as a subsidy to low-level society. But in transportation, there is no subsidy. If there is any, the proceeds could go to cheaper mass transportation investment.
What is the difference between MRT and BRT?
In term of investment, MRT costs more than BRT. With US$900 million, we can only build 14 km-long MRT while we can build BRT ten times more with such amount.
MRT operational cost is also higher than BRT’s. MRT passenger operational cost is US$1 to 3 per passenger. In BRT, it is only 60 to 70 cent or even less.
What is the BRT’s key to success in Bogota?
The government’s strong will to run it. Consistency. In Jakarta, the management is legally hardy because there is an overlap between central and regional government on road management.
The Law mentions that every passenger has an equal right to use the streets. Sixty percent of Jakarta residents ride motorbikes not because of their ideology, but because they have to.
What are the challenges in managing BRT in Bogota?
Politically and managerially, BRT is really hard [to manage]. What needed to be done is keep going and keep up. If not, congestion in Jakarta would get worse and finally [the traffic] would stop.
Reputations also influence transportation. In Manila, where there are 3 MRT ways, the congestion is worse than in Jakarta. In 1940s, trains are everybody’s favorite. In 1970s, buses are more appealing because they are considered better [modes of transportation].
Does BRT eliminate private vehicles?
Public transport does not eliminate car use. In Bogota, 20 percent of BRT users own cars. We have a policy in Bogota that cars are not allowed to be used everyday. There are certain days when cars cannot be taken to the streets for a few hours. It is done by looking at the last digits on the car plates.
Should BRT operational management be handled by the government or private parties?
BRT management in Bogota is similar to the one in Jakarta. The operation is run by private organizations on a contract with the government. It is a kilometer-based payment system. All buses belong to private parties while the infrastructure is owned by the government.
--
Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
