Thursday, April 12, 2018

A more efficient form of local transport?

Bogor is referred to as the city with "satu juta angkot", i.e. one million public transport vehicles. Angkot is short for angkutan kota or "transport for town".

It is an exaggeration. There are many angkots, but not one million. The population of Bogor is just one million.

Many of the towns in Indonesia rely on the angkot. It can take 10 people. It is a vehicle that is bigger than a taxi but smaller than a bus.

I believe that the angkot ply a fixed route. It picks up passengers from designated places but can drop them off anywhere along the route.

It is a cheap and convenient form of transport. As there are many angkots, the waiting time is short.

It helps to reduce the cost of living for the residents of the town. It also creates jobs for many drivers. I think the angkot is an efficient form of local transport.

The "light bus" system used in Hong Kong operates in a manner similar to the angkot. Most visitors and locals find the light bus to be efficient.

The big buses and the taxis in Singapore are more expensive and not convenient or efficient.

Maybe, we should rethink our mode of transport?

Tan Kin Lian

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