Jakarta Transportation

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If you expect to find an efficient public transport system in a big megalopolis like Jakarta, be prepared to a big deception; despite some recent improvements (Transjakarta), the public transportation is very bad and very polluting. There are a number of public transportations systems, and even for Jakartans, it is difficult to find their way in the system.
There are the trains taking you in the JABOTABEK area (JAkarta, BOgor, TAngerang, BEKasi), often crowded at rush hours, and there are not enough, by far, to meet the needs of people living in the suburbs and coming to work in Jakarta.
There are lots of buses and bus companies working in the suburbs and the city; a complex system, apparently.
But even more complicated are the smaller buses (Metromini, Kopaja, . . . ) and minibuses. . . there are hundreds of routes, tens of companies, cooperatives, microlet, komilet, etc. . . . cheap fixed fares. According to the Jakarta Post (Feb.03, 2005) there are 250.000 buses of various sizes in Jakarta.
For first time foreign visitors, the best is to take taxis, as these are not too expensive and can take you almost everywhere (If they know! When they ask which is your preferred route (Mau lewat mana?), that means they do not know, and they will not want to loose their face and admit they do not know. . . . ); always remind them to switch on the meter, as some have the tendency to “forget” when they take foreigners. . . .
My preferred means of transportation is the ojek, motorbike-taxi; they are very efficient in traffic jams, can go everywhere; prices subject to debate. . . .
There are also the infamous bajaj, the most polluting/km/transported persons vehicle of the world; these are for neighbourhood trips, and are not allowed on the great avenues of Jakarta.
The becak (rickshaw) and dokar (horse carriage) almost disappeared from Jakarta; you may find some in the southern suburbs of the city.
And there is the recently implemented, and under development “Busway” or “Transjakarta” transportation system. I used it during my last visit here and enjoyed it a lot, as the buses go on dedicated lanes on big avenues and are not trapped in traffic jams.

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Many families with small kids, or just because they like it take tours with the little orange train (picture 1) which travels in the wide alleys of the parks and around the tower; other prefer the horse carriage (or tokar) , but this one in not allowed in the central area of the Monas square.
Other have their special vehicles (picture 3), and have probably not to pay for transportation; there are a lot of policemen, and women (picture 4) on Monas, taking care of this National Monument, caring there are no demonstrations, no bad or anti-nationalist behaviour among the visitors, and the foreign tourists look at this with some perplexity and “evacuate” their antimilitary feelings by posing next to a police vehicle (picture 5). . . .

Monas, Central Jakarta

i think u better call Kak Aina 017 2262 458 from bangi, she has a good conatct in Bandung-Jakarta, can advise u many thins about Bandung-Jakarta
l used to travel , she help me find cheap transport + driver,,,tryu his no 017 2262 458 or email he teh_cumi@yahoo.co.uk
regards
happy trip

Why do you decide to use train, why don't just use airline service, quicker and easier, only 2 hours flight tops. However if you still want to ride a train, when you arrive in Jakarta, call this number for train schedule, (021)3502691.

Dialing guide, check the address below, have fun..
http://travelguideto-jakarta.blogspot.com/2008/06/dialing-guides-indonesia-area-codes.html

Most visitors opt to travel by taxi, which is cheap and even fast, occasionally (if there are no traffic jams - "mahcet"). There are a multitude of taxi companies of varying degrees of dependability, but the Blue Bird group is known for their reliability, has an efficient telephone order service and will among other things actually use the meter. The Blue Bird group also runs Silver Bird, Morante, Cendrawasih and Pusaka Nuri taxis.

Tipping is not necessary but rounding the meter up to the nearest Rp 1000 is expected, so prepare for small changes, or else you will be rounded up to the nearest Rp 5000.

You should spare at least 4 hours from Central Jakarta to Airport, and do not take freeway (Tanjung Priok - Soekarno Hatta) vice versa, there's a heavy reconstruction toward Soekarno Hatta direction.

I suggest you take a taxi (Blue Bird Group) so if you get unlucky and stuck, you could ask the taxi driver to find another way of perhaps a shortcut before get into the Soekarno Hatta freeway.

I would suggest only taking a Blue Bird taxi when you are in Jakarta. Some people suggest Express taxis but I had a terrible experience with them. I once tried to take an Express taxi and the driver refused to use the meter and tried to charge me an exorbitant fare. When I told him I was going to complain to his company, he attacked me. Enough said - avoid Express taxis.

I just came back from jakarta/bandung yesterday (28/5/08)...i went there with may family (15 of us) and we took microbus from Javasoltour to travel around jakarta & bandung...so, the name of out driver is Pak Rudi & the porter name is Jasmin...the thing is,as a tourist of course we wanna go around jakarta & bandung, but Pak rudy always gave us excuses (such as traffic jam/no praking area) & he doesn't want to go there...and he always make facces whenever we ask him to bring us anywhere...in bandung & jakarta, all places is congested...u can't avoid the traffic jam...so,if u guys happens to take javasoltour,try to avoid pak rudy as your driver...but take Jasmin instead because Jasmin is very helpful & nice...