Awareness of Mobility Control

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Prospective train passengers line up to register for the GeNose C-19 test service at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta, Thursday (11/3/2021).

Mobility restrictions are crucial to handling the COVID-19 pandemic and can be evaluated from post-holiday spikes of COVID-19 cases.

A year of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic has consequently caused citizens to become bored. Unsurprisingly, several long weekend holidays have encouraged gatherings in crowded centers, including tourist attractions. In the end, transmission has been widespread and the number of positive cases increases.

The long weekend that includes the Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad, which fell on Thursday (11/3/2021), and Nyepi (Day of Silence) on Sunday (14/3), was again used as an opportunity to travel. According to PT Jasa Marga’s data, the volume of vehicles passing through toll roads leaving Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabotabek) on Wednesday (10/3) increased 24.09 percent compared to normal times.

An increase in vehicle volume was recorded at 44.86 percent compared to normal traffic, especially for those heading east.

A majority of the vehicles left Jabodetabek to the east via the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, which was a total of 72,408 vehicles or 47.05 percent. An increase in vehicle volume was recorded at 44.86 percent compared to normal traffic, especially for those heading east. Meanwhile, 47,460 vehicles (30.84%) headed west, which was an increase of 6.62 percent compared to normal times. There were also 34,027 vehicles (22.11%) heading south (up 21.45% from normal).

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The police control the traffic flow at the Jagorawi toll exit in Baranangsiang, Bogor city, West Java on Saturday (6/2/2021) following the implementation of the odd-even licence plate policy in the city. The policy is part of the Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) in Bogor. Motorcycles and four-wheeled cars are all checked at a number of locations on the main road in the city and the entrance to the city.

Almost simultaneously with the increase in the volume of vehicles, several Transjakarta buses have begun to operate again due to the easing of social restrictions. One of them is the Ragunan-Blok M route bus, which resumed its operations on Friday (12/3) after being halted for almost a year. This route’s operation increased the number of Transjakarta routes operating during the pandemic. (Kompas, 12/3/2021). The resumption of these Transjakarta routes will surely trigger more mobility for Jakarta residents.

Efforts to reduce mobility can be seen through the Administration and Bureaucratic Reform Ministerial Circular No. 6/2021 concerning inter-regional travel restrictions for civil servants (ASN) during Isra Miraj and Nyepi. In the circular, Administration and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo prohibited civil servants from travelling outside the region during the two holidays. This restriction also applies to the families of civil servants.

Civil servants are then role models to serve as an appeal to reduce mobility.

The prohibition of civil servants and their families from travelling out of the region is normal and considered important. Civil servants are then role models to serve as an appeal to reduce mobility. The next question is then, how effective is this appeal for civil servants?

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

An atmosphere of a rapid antigen test at the rest area of the Jakarta-Cikampek Km 19 Toll Road, South Tambun, Bekasi Regency, West Java, Wednesday (23/12/2020).

It is known that officers stationed at the Jabodetabek exits will not be able to keep up with the number of passing vehicles, especially if they are expected to be on standby for 24 hours. Public awareness to reduce mobility for the sake of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic then takes precedence. It is better to refrain from travelling for a while to protect oneself and one’s environment.

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia).