[sustran] Re: Jakarta plans "Odds and Evens" license plate traffic rationing

[Cornie Huizenga]

Dear Todd,
See Jakarta post of 19 October below which indicates that there is
awareness of the problem and willingness to do something about it.  The
news article has a very interesting quote:

-----" Meanwhile, the head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency’s
engineering management unit, Bernhard Hutajulu, said that the agency was
still conducting studies regarding the planned on-street parking fee hike.
He added that the administration was also mulling a plan to ensure that
city’s public transportation was good enough to accommodate the shifting
use of transportation, following the plan to increase parking fees. “Asking
the public to start using public transportation to ease traffic was not an
easy task. We have to ensure that the city’s public transportation choices
are as comfortable as their private cars so they are willing to leave their
cars at home,” Bernhard said. ----

This very well describes the dilemma that many transport policy makers
believe themselves to be in.  Restrictions on the use of private cars can
only work if you provide an alternative which delivers the same quality of
service to those who need to change their behaviour.  I would argue that
this is a false choice. If we accept that the mobility experience of the
private car users (which are in total a small minority of all people) come
at a price (pollution, congestion, safety concerns) for the majority of the
people why should the government not be allowed to restrict this
harmful behaviour?  I realize of course that there are political forces at
play that could in some cases ensure that the policy makers/planners
calling for such decisions would be soon out of a job.  It is important to
consider the ethical dimension of this question.

Cornie

City urged to increase on-street parking fees
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Jakarta | Fri, October 19 2012, 9:08 AM
A- A A+

Paper Edition | Page: 10

The city’s transportation council said the Jakarta administration should
immediately raise on-street parking fees to reduce the number of vehicles
parked on the city’s overcrowded streets.

The Jakarta Transportation Council said the price hike was necessary as
they found that more motorists are now parking their vehicles on the
streets in response to the administration’s recent decision to increase
off-street parking fees.

“This means that the policy to increase off-street parking fees has not
only failed to help ease traffic congestion, but it also encouraged the
public to park on the street, which only worsened traffic congestion in
some areas,” council chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan said on Thursday.

Based on his observations, traffic congestion in some parts of Jakarta,
including Casablanca and Setiabudi, is worsening due to the rising number
of vehicles parked on the roads. “We are urging the administration to
ensure that the fare is much more expensive than the off-street parking
fare to stop the bad parking habits,” Azas added.

Transportation Ministry inspector-general Iskandar Abubakar said that the
fee of the on-street parking should be adjusted into three city zones,
namely the central zone, the in-between zone and the sub district zones.
“For the city central parking zone, the fee should be increased by 400
percent, for the in-between areas the fare should be increased by 200
percent, while the parking fee in the subdistrict doesn’t need to be
increased,” Iskandar said.

According to Iskandar, the administration’s policy to ban on-street parking
on Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk in Central and West Jakarta last year
had been proven effective in easing traffic in the area.

As previously reported, the transportation agency observed a 60 percent
improvement in road capacity, following the ban of on-street parking on Jl.
Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk.

“The policy to increase the on-street parking fares in the city would have
the same effect in regards to road capacity in Jakarta,” Iskandar said.
“Because for every one square-meter of road that is used as a parking
space, the road capacity is decreased to around 500 vehicles,” he added.

According to Iskandar, the city administration felt uneasy about increasing
on-street and off-street parking fares at the same time because it was seen
as a non-populist policy. “The policy to increase both off-street and
on-street parking fees would obviously crush the middle class, as they
would be forced to leave their cars or motorcycles at home and take public
transportation. But they will understand why the policy should be
implemented by the time the system is working,” Iskandar said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency’s engineering
management unit, Bernhard Hutajulu, said that the agency was still
conducting studies regarding the planned on-street parking fee hike. He
added that the administration was also mulling a plan to ensure that city’s
public transportation was good enough to accommodate the shifting use of
transportation, following the plan to increase parking fees.

“Asking the public to start using public transportation to ease traffic was
not an easy task. We have to ensure that the city’s public transportation
choices are as comfortable as their private cars so they are willing to
leave their cars at home,” Bernhard said.

The Jakarta administration had raised off-street parking fees on Oct. 8,
with the fees for cars between Rp 3,000 ( US 31 cents) and Rp 5,000 for the
first hour.

For every subsequent hour, the fees are Rp 2,000 to Rp 4,000. Previously,
the fees were between
Rp 2,000 and Rp 3,000 for the first hour. For motorcycles it is Rp 1,000 to
Rp 2,000 per hour. *(nad)*

On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 12:51 AM, Todd Alexander Litman <litman at vtpi.org>wrote:

> I agree that vehicle restrictions based on license plate numbers are
> probably not very effective at reducing air pollution since many trips
> (errands, shopping, social visits, etc.) are simply deferred from one day
> to
> another, and they are economically inefficient because they lack
> flexibility, for example, if a residents really needs to make a trip during
> their no-drive day. Some objective research does indicate that vehicle
> license plate restrictions applied over long periods encourages some
> households to purchase additional vehicles, which where often cheap, old,
> high polluting cars. See:
> Haynes Goddard (1997), "Using Tradable Permits to Achieve Sustainability in
> the World's Large Cities," Environmental and Resource Economics, Vol. 10,
> 1997, pp. 63-99; at
> http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1023%2FA%3A1026444113237.
>
> There are much more effective and efficient ways to reduce urban vehicle
> travel, some of which generate revenues that can be used to improve
> alternative modes. The best is simply to efficiently price parking and
> eliminate minimum parking requirements. As Don Shoup says, free parking is
> a
> fertility drug for cars. As much as possible on-street parking should be
> priced, parking should be unbundled (rented separately from building space,
> so apartment residents only pay for the number of parking spaces they
> need),
> and employers should price or cash out commuter parking (so commuters who
> don't drive receive a cash bonus equivalent to the value of free parking
> provided to motorists).
>
> Road space reallocation (also called "complete streets" policies), with
> wider sidewalks and improved crosswalks, bike lanes and bus lanes, and
> lower
> design speeds on urban arterials, give efficient modes priority over
> automobile traffic. Restrictions on vehicle ownership, such as Singapore's
> lottery, and congestion pricing such as in London and Stockholm, are good
> but more difficult to implement.
>
>
> For information see:
>
> "Vehicle Restrictions" chapter of the Online TDM Encyclopedia
> (www.vtpi.org/tdm )
>
> Paul Barter (2010) Parking Policy in Asian Cities, Asian Development Bank
> (www.adb.org); at
> http://beta.adb.org/publications/parking-policy-asian-cities. Also see
> www.slideshare.net/PaulBarter/barter-for-adb-transport-forum-2010.
>
> Beijing Transport Demand Management (www.tdm-beijing.org) aims to identify
> and evaluate suitable non-technical measures to reducing vehicle traffic
> and
> associated pollution emissions.
>
> GIZ (2011), Changing Course in Urban Transport- An Illustrated Guide,
> Sustainable Urban Transport Project (www.sutp.org) Asia and GIZ; at
> www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2825.
>
> ITDP (2011), Better Street, Better Cities: A Guide To Street Design In
> Urban
> India, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (www.itdp.org);
> at www.itdp.org/betterstreets.
>
> ITDP (2012), Transforming Urban Mobility In Mexico: Towards Accessible
> Cities Less Reliant on Cars, Institute for Transportation and Development
> Policy (www.mexico.itdp.org); at
>
> http://mexico.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/Transforming-Urban-Mobility-in-Mex
> ico.pdf.
>
> Santhosh Kodukula (2011), Raising Automobile Dependency: How to Break the
> Trend?, GIZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project (www.sutp.org); at
> www.sutp.org/dn.php?file=TD-RAD-EN.pdf.
>
> Todd Litman (2011), "Transport Pricing Reforms for More Efficient Cities:
> Options and Impacts," GEF-SUTP Quarterly Newsletter, Vol. 2/5; at
> http://sutpindia.com/docs/SUTPNewsletter_january2012.pdf.
>
> Frederik Strompen, Todd Litman and Daniel Bongardt (2012), Reducing Carbon
> Emissions through TDM Strategies - A Review of International Examples,
> Transportation Demand Management in Beijing
> (http://tdm-beijing.org/index.php) GIZ and the Beijing Transportation
> Research Centre; at
>
> http://tdm-beijing.org/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=category&cid=1
> 2&Itemid=9&lang=en; direct link at
> http://tdm-beijing.org/files/International_Review.pdf; summary at
> http://tdm-beijing.org/files/International_Review_Executive_Summary.pdf.
>
> UTTIPEC (2010), Parking Policy as a Travel Demand Management Strategy,
> Delhi
> Development Authority (www.uttipec.nic.in); at
> www.uttipec.nic.in/writereaddata/linkimages/7460355562.pdf.
>
> Lloyd Wright (2009), Environmentally Sustainable Transport For Asian
> Cities:
> A Sourcebook, United Nations Centre for Regional Development
> (www.uncrd.org.jp); at
> http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/uncrd/unpan031844.pdf
> .
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Todd Litman
> Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
> litman at vtpi.org
> facebook.com/todd.litman
> Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
> 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
> "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org at list.jca.apc.org
> [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org at list.jca.apc.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Cornie Huizenga
> Sent: December-17-12 6:40 PM
> To: Carlosfelipe Pardo
> Cc: sustran-discuss
> Subject: [sustran] Re: Jakarta plans "Odds and Evens" license plate traffic
> rationing
>
> Hi Carlos - I have heard a lot of anecdotal evidence on people buying
> additional cars but have not really seen hard numbers on this. Obviously
> what the governor of Jakarta is most interested in is the number of cars on
> the road on a given day and not the number of cars owned.  There are hard
> numbers available that such a odd-even scheme reduces the numbers of cars
> actually on the road on a given day and that it does increase average
> speeds.  It is good to see that additional investments are being made in
> public transport.
>
> My preference would however be a vehicle quota with the auction proceeds
> being used to improve public transport. Currently 400 new cars are being
> registered in greater Jakarta area (
> http://www.indii.co.id/news_daily_detail.php?id=4164) resulting in annual
> 144,000 new cars.  Having a quota of 50% of that number (70,000) with an
> average auction price of $7,500 would generate $ 525,000,000 per year in
> income for the city and would enable it to implement   a high quality
> public transport system as long as it does not succumbs to the idea of
> having a metro.   Various feasibility studies have also been carried out on
> congestion charging in Jakarta - this could be used to regulate the use of
> existing vehicles.
>
> All in all a more sustainable approach than the rather primitive odd-even
> scheme which does not generate any revenues.
>
> Cornie
>
> On Mon, Dec 17, 2012 at 11:36 PM, Carlosfelipe Pardo <
> carlosfpardo at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
> > Based on the experience of every city where this scheme has been
> > applied, I wouldn't be suprised if the amount of car sales (used and
> > old) increase substantially once it's implemented...
> >
> >
> > On 17/12/2012 02:58 a.m., Paul Barter wrote:
> > > *** Jakarta Opts for Odds-Evens Car Restriction Plan ***
> > >
> > >
> > http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/jakarta-opts-for-odds-evens-car-re
> > striction-plan/560260
> > > Ronna Nirmala | December 07, 2012
> > >
> > > Jakarta will impose car restrictions based on license plate numbers
> > > on major streets by March next year to ease the capital's notorious
> > > traffic woes, Governor Joko Widodo said.
> > >
> > > The new policy will impose rotating restrictions based on odd or
> > > even license plate numbers in Jakarta's main business areas.
> > >
> > > The restriction, the governor said, has been approved by the Jakarta
> > > Police and will take effect every weekday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. But
> > > determining which vehicles can enter the areas on what day or time,
> > > he said, would require further study.
> > >
> > > Joko admitted that the plan would generate strong criticism and even
> > > resistance from road users in Jakarta.
> > >
> > > "If we don't take some drastic measures [Jakarta's traffic problems]
> > > will not be over, because the number of vehicles is not getting any
> > > smaller," Joko said.
> > >
> > > "Which is why we will inform the public and explain [the policy]
> > > slowly. This policy is to help people to switch to public transport
> > > and to urge people to conserve the use of fuel."
> > >
> > > Joko said Jakarta will provide more buses to anticipate surging
> > > demand for reliable, comfortable and accessible public transport
> > > once the regulation is in place.
> > >
> > > "In January we will add 200 articulated TransJakarta buses, with an
> > > additional 600 buses [in the future], plus 1,000 medium sized
> > > [Kopaja] buses. This means there is an effort to increase and revamp
> > > [public transportation]," he said.
> > >
> > > Joko said the government is studying whether the policy would affect
> > > motorcycles. "So far those exempted by this regulation are public
> > > transportation, taxis, ambulances, TransJakarta buses and Kopajas,"
> > > he said. "Motorcycles should be affected by the regulation but we
> > > will study this further."
> > >
> > > .....
> > >
> > > ===
> > > Other items on this issue can be found via a google search on
> > > "jakarta odds evens license plate", such as the following:
> > >
> > > Odd-even system to benefit plate makers Jakarta Post-15 Dec, 2012 If
> > > you plan to outsmart the city administration's upcoming odd-even
> > > license plate system by making a fake, alternate license plate, you
> > > should ...
> > >
> > > Police to install devices to spot fake license plates Jakarta
> > > Post-14 Dec, 2012 The Jakarta Police are looking for ways to enforce
> > > the odd-even license plate policy, which has faced skepticism and
> > > criticism from Jakarta's ...
> > >
> > > House Member Says Odd-Even Plan Worth Trying Jakarta Globe-35
> > > minutes ago House Member Says Odd-Even Plan Worth Trying ... the
> > > Jakarta administration's plan for a license plate-based vehicle
> > > restriction scheme, ... days depending on whether their license
> > > plates end in odd or evennumbers, but ...
> > >
> > > Jakarta to try odd-even license plate car restriction plan
> > > NEWS.com.au-11 Dec, 2012
> > > The plan would see cars with odd-numbered license plates banned on
> > > even dates and vice versa, TheJakarta Post reports. Vehicles would
> > > be ...
> > >
> > > Jakarta Opts for Odds-Evens Car Restriction Plan Jakarta Globe-6
> > > Dec, 2012 Jakarta will impose car restrictions based on license
> > > plate numbers on ... restrictions based on odd oreven license plate
> > > numbers in Jakarta's ...
> > >
> > > Alternative to Odd-Even License Plates Tempo Interaktif-10 Dec, 2012
> > > TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:There is dissension within the ranks of
> > > the Jakarta administration regarding theodd-even license plates number
> ...
> > >
> > > Odd-Even License Plate Numbers Policy to Be Applied in 2013
> > > BeritaJakarta.com-6 Dec, 2012
> > > Jakarta Provincial Government is going to implement private vehicles
> > > usage limitation through odd andeven license plate numbers in the ...
> > >
> > > Indonesian Transport Society Wants Delay on Odd, Even Plan Jakarta
> > > Globe-8 Dec, 2012 ... the Jakarta Administration's plan to implement
> > > a license plate-based ... a rotating restriction on car use based on
> > > odd or even license plate ...
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Paul Barter
> > > http://www.reinventingparking.org
> > > http://www.reinventingtransport.org
> > > http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/Faculty_Paul_Barter.aspx
> > > --------------------------------------------------------
> > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit
> > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss
> > >
> > > ================================================================
> > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing
> > countries (the 'Global South').
> > >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------
> > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit
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> >
> > ================================================================
> > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing
> > countries (the 'Global South').
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Cornie Huizenga
> Joint Convener
> Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
> Mobile: +86 13901949332
> cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org
> www.slocat.net
> --------------------------------------------------------
> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit
> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss
>
> ================================================================
> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
> (the 'Global South').
>
>
>


-- 
Cornie Huizenga
Joint Convener
Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
Mobile: +86 13901949332
cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org
www.slocat.net