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laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

How many have taken any of the new busway corridors? I take it home every night from the office and find 2 things that really sum up Indonesia in a nutshell.
The old me first mentality is at it's finest here as i have seen elderly women using elbows and stiffarms to knock out other passengers just to be the first one on the bus. almost makes me reminisce about my old football playing days. Also with such an urgency to actually get on the thing why then does everyone have to walk so slowly and take up the entire footbridge when they get off. Were they really in such a hurry in the first place?
Let me know your experiences.

Michael_Indonesia · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:51 am Post subject:

Brilliant post. The busway really is a microcosm of Jakarta, isn't it.

First, the plain lack of courtesy in this country. Reminds me of when I first moved here, amazed at people who take baby strollers and shopping carts onto escalators. Soon, I realized it was because they couldn't get onto elevators, which were full with able-bodied people who, though they weren't carrying anything, used the elevators instead of escalators.

Second, the tendency of Jakartans to push and shove to be first; kind of a 'hurry up and wait' mentality. Like, when you see drivers who weave and honk their horns, just so they can quickly get to work and accomplish next to nothing over the next 8 hours.

Gotta love it!

xsbir · Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 81 Location: The Big Durian

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

You people have no idea how good you have it in Jakarta in terms of politeness. Come to Shanghai and see how the mainlanders do it....

mulutmubesar · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Sri Lanka

And it seems that they don't care,they don't know,so what's the difference.Just like ignoring the auto recorded audio- "checks your belonging and step carefully"that has been playing for years .It clearly shows a cultural disease- the unwillingness to change.Poor people, still uneducated.

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

I don't quite understand wailing imam, because Shanghai is more impolite we should excuse the sheer rudeness and ignorance of the people we live side by side with? I also think a public education on the use of busway lanes by car drivers is way overdue. Or maybe fines in the same order as the 3 in 1 law. These lanes are meant for busway traffic only. It is written in bahasa indonesia so what is the problem?

My problem is not so much the system but the response I get from locals when I try to raise these and other matters with them. Is is that much of a crime to take ideas from other cultures and foreigners?

rayman · Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 427

I'm also a daily busway commuter and find these things particularly perplexing;

* Police waving cars INTO the busway lane to lighten traffic jams. WTF! So now it's not 3 lanes of gridlock but 4. Not to mention the only road service in Jakarta that is SUPPOSED to be traffic free is now stuck amongst it.

* Passengers getting on board and then being SHOCKED by the fact they almost lose their footing as the bus accelerates. Tip: Buses move - hold on.

* The busway drivers that hit the yellow 'Prepare to Stop' signs and don't seem to flinch. Most, I kid you not, tend to be of the female variety.

mulutmubesar · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Sri Lanka

TEAM_PAPUA · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 1679 Location: HOLE

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

Off topic but still related to inefficiency and cultural beefs, I went to a popular and busy KFC restaurant in Central Jakarta the other day and ordered chicken-positive! I then ordered a salad, corn on the cob, perkedal and fries only to be greeted with a smile and a Kosong Mister for all requests. mmmmmmm, this was around 630PM when you would expect most people would want dinner.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952