Riding on the Transjakarta busway

World-class cities have subway/MRT. That's what Jakarta is trying to achieve too, hence the MRT development that's currently in progress - aimed to start operation by 2018.

But while we're waiting on that, we can use the next best thing that's available - the Transjakarta busway.

They are in operations daily from 05.00 in the morning until 22.00 at night, and cover the primary (and busiest) roads in Jakarta, in hope to give Jakartans a comfy and reliable public transportation that can make them ditch their cars and/or motorcycles at home.

The first corridor (Blok M-Kota) began operation exactly 10 years ago, and along with time, the busway's grown into 12 corridors.

If you see a gray building in the middle of the road like this one below...

The typical exterior of a Transjakarta busway stop & its bus (this one is the Monas stop)

...that means you've found a busway stop. And that orange thingy in front of the stop is the bus!

Now how do we ride one?

• Find the corridor that will pass by your destination,
• buy a ticket (worth IDR 3500, or even only IDR 2000 at 05.00-07.00 in the morning),
• wait for the correct bus to arrive at your stop (at most stops, there are doors on the right and there are doors on the left - one bus going to one way and the other going to the opposite direction - make sure you choose the right bus),
• get inside the bus & enjoy the ride,
• and drop off at any stop in that corridor.

So whether it's near or far, even when you switch to other corridors midway, you pay the same price (as long as you don't exit from the busway stop).

For today's trip, I started my ride from Monas stop (the one that's right in front of Museum Gajah) and would drop off at Sarinah stop. While waiting for the bus, let's take a few photos...

The typical interior of a Transjakarta busway stop: there's a vending machine, a TV, and chairs to wait for the bus

Panoramic view of the interior of a Transjakarta busway stop

After waiting for a few minutes, finally my bus came. But dang! It was 12 o'clock at noon and that means peak hours...

Packed & packed! A view inside a Transjakarta bus during peak hours

During morning (when people go to work), noon (when people go out for lunch), or late afternoon (when people go home from work), expect the kind of view like the above photo...

People will pack inside the bus, the Air Conditioner won't feel cold anymore (even if it's on), and BEWARE of pickpockets... ALWAYS keep your wallets safe and hold your bags on your chest. Even if you wear a backpack (like me) - switch your backpack into a frontpack when you're inside the bus. Better safe than sorry.

Yes, be cautious for bad people, but still - enjoy the ride and enjoy the view of the busy city from Jakarta's (current) signature public transportation.

And remember, just like any other good public transportation: no food or smoking inside the bus please! And do give up your seats for the elders, disabled, or pregnant women. God bless you! Enjoy the ride!

-redPacker