Public Transportation in DKI Jakarta That Is Starting to Be Restricted
As the number of positive Covid-19 cases in Jakarta and its surroundings continues to rise, the Jakarta Provincial Government has begun to limit public transportation in Jakarta for security reasons. As is known, Covid-19 is highly contagious, so the use of public transportation, which is often crowded, raises concerns about increasing the risk of spreading the virus.
On the other hand, the public is also starting to choose to use private vehicles or online transportation services instead of public transport such as Trans Jakarta buses, angkots, and so on. This, of course, impacts the number of vehicles passing through Jakarta every day. Currently, even though the odd-even rule in Jakarta has been implemented, it still cannot solve the increasingly severe traffic congestion.
PSBB Re-Implemented
However, due to the rising number of positive Covid-19 cases in Jakarta and surrounding cities, the Jakarta government has recently re-implemented Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) as an effort to reduce Covid-19 cases. With this implementation, public transportation in Jakarta will again be limited and the odd-even rule will be temporarily suspended.
The restrictions are planned to be implemented starting from September 14, 2020, until an unspecified time. This is done to reduce public activities similar to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, clearer explanations regarding the restrictions on public transportation in the capital are still unknown. The Jakarta Provincial Government is likely to soon issue stricter and clearer regulations compared to previous PSBBs, considering the increasing and concerning number of positive patients.
First Phase PSBB
In the previous PSBB, the Jakarta Provincial Government still allowed some companies to operate, albeit with restrictions. However, for this PSBB, it is likely that all companies in Jakarta will work from home entirely. In addition, the implementation of social distancing and the use of masks will likely be stricter than before.
Regarding transportation, the government has not provided further information. However, it is likely that it will not differ much from previous restrictions where operational hours, the number of fleets, and passenger capacity in each vehicle will be limited. In the previous PSBB, the operational hours of public transportation in Jakarta were limited until 6 PM, while the capacity was requested not to exceed 50% of its total capacity.
Although there are restrictions on public transportation, it seems that this will not apply to private vehicles. In the first PSBB, private vehicles were not restricted from passing as long as passengers maintained distance and adhered to the health protocols recommended by the government. Therefore, for those with urgent needs, using a private car is more advisable than using a motorcycle or other vehicles.
Using a private car is not only safer but also more efficient considering that the odd-even rule in Jakarta will be suspended during the PSBB. Although passenger restrictions in private cars may be implemented, this is not a serious issue. However, to ensure safety, it is advisable not to forget to always provide antiseptic liquid and masks to minimize the risk of transmission inside the car.
Although private cars may still be able to pass through the streets of Jakarta, the use of application-based transportation services cannot be confirmed yet. In the first PSBB, this type of public transportation, although still able to carry out delivery activities, was still limited in transporting passengers. This is due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19 in these services.
Considering the increasing number of positive patients in Jakarta and the growing burden on health facilities to tackle Covid-19, it is advisable for the public, especially Jakarta residents, to participate in implementing the regional quarantine. Understanding and high discipline are key to the success of PSBB in various regions around the world in combating Covid-19.
