A number of transportation companies are starting to provide inclusive services for vulnerable groups

The government and private sector are trying to side with vulnerable groups by providing inclusive transportation.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Officers simulate service for disabled passengers in the LRT train series at Pegangsaan Dua Station, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Tuesday (24/1/2023). LRT Jakarta, through the #NyamankanJakarta campaign, aims to realize excellent public transportation services by fostering safety, comfort, and environmental friendliness, thus creating public transportation that is child-friendly, women-friendly, and disability-friendly.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — A number of transportation companies are starting to provide inclusive services for vulnerable groups. To develop it further, collaboration with other stakeholders, including the government, is needed.

PT Blue Bird Tbk, for example, launched an inclusive taxi service or Lifecare Taxi in Jakarta, Thursday (25/4/2024). To begin with, the company has a fleet of five units. A total of three units in Jakarta and two units in Bali.

Blue Bird's CEO, Adrianto Djokosetono, stated that the demand for this service is not as high as regular taxi services. This is because the awareness of this program among the community is still limited.

Inclusive taxi services are aimed at vulnerable groups. Among them are pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. However, this service is also available for outpatient patients.

Adrianto stated that Blue Bird has collaborated with Dharmais Cancer Hospital to offer its services. This is because the average patients are people who regularly visit the hospital.

KOMPAS/YOSEPHA DEBRINA R PUSPARISA

President Director of PT Blue Bird Tbk Adrianto Djokosoetono answered questions from media crew at the Blue Bird Building, Jakarta, Thursday (25/4/2024).

In order for its service to reach a wider community, Blue Bird is currently considering collaborating with a number of institutions. "So, the concept is that we will collaborate with hospitals or certain institutions that can provide recommendations to those in need at a more affordable price," said Adrianto.

Although still in discussion, the taxi company plans to open this service as widely as possible, especially for vulnerable groups from all backgrounds. For customers who cannot afford the fare, they can apply for cost relief on the Blue Bird website.

"The subsidy comes from us, but for the mechanism we actually need (cooperation from) the relevant agencies as well. Therefore, we cannot launch now for that facility. "However, in the future, we will launch this facility," said Adrianto.

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For now, customers interested in using Lifecare Taxi can make reservations by calling 021-79171234. Customers are recommended to make reservations at least one day before departure to facilitate scheduling arrangements between other consumers and available fleets.

This fleet, imported directly from Toyota Japan, contains five seats and one seat that can slide (power slide up)up and down. This seat can come out of the car body so passengers don't have to have difficulty getting into the car.

"This is an urgency that may not be heard. In fact, since 2014, since we launched for the first time, this urgency has actually been heard. "We will seriously develop it according to real needs in society, we hope like that," said Adrianto.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The pink Transjakarta bus that is specifically designated for female passengers is back in operation by PT Transportasi Jakarta, as seen in Pasar Baru, Jakarta on Monday (25/7/2022). The reintroduction of this bus is expected to provide safe and comfortable services, especially for female passengers. Currently, the pink bus only serves the route from Pasar Baru to Kali Deres. This women-only bus had previously been operated in 2016.

PT Transportation Jakarta or Transjakarta has also provided a special fleet as well as non-moving infrastructure or equipment. Transjakarta Service and Business Director Fadly Hasan said that his party provides facilities and support services for vulnerable groups. Among these are tactileguidelines, braille route maps and Transjakarta priority customer pins.

To make it easier for the public to access it, the Jakarta Provincial Government and Transjakarta collaborated with Bank DKI Jakarta to issue a Free Service Card. This card can be used specifically for customers in vulnerable categories, such as disabilities and the elderly.

Currently, according to Fadly, the number of vulnerable customer categories is still 5 percent of the total consumers of Transjakarta. There are 20 units of special buses for women available, spread across the Jakarta corridor.

Also read: Improve Public Transportation Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Transjakarta also provides special services for people with disabilities in DKI Jakarta, such as disability-friendly paths to Transjakarta bus stops. Those interested in the "Transjakarta Cares" program can make reservations through the telephone number 1500-102 or via Whatsapp messaging application at 08111545001.

"We conduct surveys or record customer needs first so that the improvements carried out are optimal and right on target," said Fadly.

Limited infrastructure and facilities remain a challenge in developing an inclusive transportation system. In addition, low public awareness towards vulnerable groups also hampers progress.

Deputy Chair of Community Empowerment and Development at Indonesia's Transportation Society, Djoko Setijowarno, stated that the Indonesian government has implemented a minimum service standard (SPM) for transportation. This includes all modes of transportation on land, sea, and air. The inclusivity aspect for vulnerable groups, such as women and the elderly, must be fulfilled.

However, the fundamental problem that still needs to be addressed is the insufficient number of village-city transportation fleets. The need for public transportation must be fulfilled first so that the needs of vulnerable groups can also be met.

“In general, attention has been given. All buses produced have attention paid to vulnerable groups. "For example, out of 20 buses, at least 4-5 buses have a wheelchair lift so that wheelchair users can get on," said Djoko when contacted from Jakarta.

In various regions, for example, the installation of special facilities is only done as a matter of course.

Private taxi drivers who provide inclusive services for the community have also been trained. They know how to assist the elderly and deal with other special needs customers.

However, Djoko added that the awareness of the community and local governments is still lacking. In several regions, for example, the installation of special facilities is only done without proper planning. Local governments fail to understand the function of the facilities installed. As a result, instead of helping, the facilities actually complicate the lives of people with special needs.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Deputy Chair of Regional Empowerment and Development of the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Djoko Setijowarno.

In the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) report released in December 2023, a good public transportation system is capable of safely and efficiently connecting individuals to many places through the use of public transportation.

Public transportation also prioritizes vulnerable groups and those with less mobility, including women, children, the poor, and people with disabilities.

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Adequate public transportation can be judged by its connectivity, comfort, consistency, ease, cost-effectiveness, customer friendliness, and cleanliness. A system that is able to continuously improve these aspects' qualities will further support passenger communities.

According to research by ITDP, the majority of public transportation users in several big cities in Indonesia are vulnerable groups. In Surakarta, for example, 56 percent of users of Trans Surakarta Batik Solo are women. In Jakarta, 49 percent of Transjakarta micro bus passengers are elderly people.

"Although women and the elderly population rely heavily on public transportation, many system and facility designs do not consider their mobility needs, multimodal travel, physical abilities, and destinations," said ITDP Indonesia researchers Annisa Lazuardini, Deliani Siregar, and Fani Rachmita in writing, quoted from the ITDP website.