Jakarta Transportation

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If you like to sit on a hard bench, feel like ice cubes in a cocktail shaker, smell the wonderful perfume of petrol and unburned exhaust gases, this is the place for you! These bajaj (pronounce badjaï) are amongst the most polluting devices on the planet. But sometimes for a short trip, if you have no choice, you can take a bajaj, and it can be fun for a short moment. In the past I used a bajaj one day (night!) to go to a reception at the hotel Borobudur, and when I arrived, the butler at the hotel was very upset not to open the door of a limousine, but a bajaj; I do not know why, as the passenger is well hidden in a bajaj (picture 1), like in a limousine. . .
These bajaj contribute a lot to “couleur locale” and are used a lot by Jakartans when they go shopping, or travel in the neighbourhood; they are almost as efficient as bikes in narrow streets (picture 2); the drivers wait usually at the markets or shopping areas (Pasar Baru on picture 3).
In the traffic, they do not hesitate to take the fast lanes (picture 4).
If you go to the market with a bajaj, be careful, you may take some blind passengers with you (picture 5), and must then adopt him. . . .
Prices are high, comparatively to ojeks; ask and try to get half price of the proposed price. . . .

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I like to go around with ojek in Jakarta, because there is a lot to see and discover in the midst of the traffic, you would not see in a taxi or bus; and there is a funny proximity with the other street users. On the wide avenues, you can say “hello” to the truck drivers (picture 1) at the traffic lights, you can find your way in the narrow little streets (picture 2).
On a bike you also can make big smiles to your colleague bikers (picture 3) say “hi” to nice neighbours in the traffic (picture 4), and all that sort of little things which make life enjoyable. On the last picture, just what you can see when sitting on the back seat of a bike.

Prices are very variable, and foreigners must always negotiate; but, think about: I paid 25.000 RP (1.7 Euro) for a trip from Senayan to Kota (13 km); is it really serious to have arguments for 2000-5000 Rupiah?
In general, for a one to five km trip you should pay 10.000-15.000 Rp

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My preferred means of getting around for long distances in Jakarta is the ojek; I find the motorbike drivers efficient and skilful, and on bikes, you have an open view on all what happens around (and accessorily are also exposed to the heavy pollution of the traffic, but you have to make choices).
There are all sorts of bikers and I just propose you here a portrait gallery of some, which transported me, or who were waiting for a customer, even sleeping. . . .
They should have a helmet, but do not be surprised if they do not have or propose you.

Prices are very variable, and foreigners must always negotiate; but, think about: I paid 25.000 RP (1.7 Euro) for a trip from Senayan to Kota (13 km); is it really serious to have arguments for 2000-5000 Rupiah?
In general, for a one to five km trip you should pay 10.000-15.000 Rp

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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.