A throng of motorcyclists travels on Java’s northern route in Cikalong, Karawang, West Java, Sunday (4/8/2013). During the Idul Fitri homebound exodus season, all northern, central and southern routes in Java are packed with travelers. It is estimated that the peak of the exodus flow will take place four days before the Idul Fitri holidays.
It is not fair to say that the government does not work to prepare for Lebaran. Many toll roads are under construction.
The fleets of land, sea and air modes of transportation have also increased in capacity. However, the preparations do not seem to keep pace with the increasing needs.
This is the reality we face every year before Lebaran. Even with all the effort, we do not seem to stop getting surprises. For example, with all the hard work put into preparing the Cipali toll road, no one would have thought that last year a massive traffic jam would lead to fatalities caused by heat and exhaustion at the Brebes Exit – the so-called Brexit tragedy.
Because of this experience we are required to prepare ourselves as well as possible. In this connection we want to put a special spotlight on the news we read on Monday, namely about the use of motorcycles for the Lebaran homecoming travel.
The number of motorcycle travelers this year is estimated at 6.06 million, up 18 percent from the previous year when there were 5.13 million. They argue that by motorcycles provide advantages, such as not having to queue to get bus or train tickets, more quickly negotiating congestion and incurring lower costs. Then, in their home towns, the motorcyclists have a more mobility.
Those are good reasons. The shortcoming is that low-cc motorcycles are not designed for long-distance travel. The demands for concentration and the unfavorable road conditions cause the motorcyclists to get tired quickly.
During a discussion in Jakarta on Sunday, (18/6), Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi again urged people not to use motorcycles to travel to their home towns. "Try using other modes of transportation before choosing motorcycles," he said.
The warning is not without reason. In Lebaran 2016, out of the 2,900 traffic accidents that were recorded, about 70 percent were experienced by users of motorcycles.
We underline the above warning by the transportation minister. However, as long as the roots of the problem are not addressed, the minister\'s appeal may be irrelevant. A transportation observer with Soegijapranata University, Semarang, Djoko Setijowarno, said that among the roots is the lack of cheap mass transportation from Jakarta to a number of areas on Java and Sumatra.
We raise the issue of the homecoming travel by motorcycles simply as an example of the annual routine problems of Lebaran travel that have not been solved. In addition, new problems are arising that are no less complicated.
Hopefully, this can awaken among our leaders that with the great power and splendor of their positions comes great responsibilities.
