Jakarta is known for its snarling traffic that could easily daunt newcomers. For car owners and/or drivers, maneuvering around the peak hours or knowing shortcuts is essential in order to not be frustrated. One popular way for Indonesians to beat the traffic is to stay in the mall. That’s one of the reasons why you see plenty of malls in the city. Besides for the obvious purpose of shopping, the demand for a comfortable place to kill time is high. The good thing about staying in the mall to wait for the rush hour to subside is that you’ll be able to catch up with friends over dinner or window shopping.
Another way to find out about traffic ahead is to follow Polda Metro Jaya twitter https://twitter.com/TMCPoldaMetro. TMC Polda Metro Jaya is Jakarta Region Police Force Traffic Management Center. They always update Jakarta’s traffic condition pretty much to the minute which comes in handy when you’re about to head out. At times, there will be accompanying pictures though some of them can be quite graphic. Since it’s a ‘live’ report, it should be easier to expect the road and traffic conditions especially during rainy season in which there will be floods in various streets. If words are not enough, you can also look up www.lewatmana.com to get live cam of traffic conditions on main streets of Jakarta. Run by a community of road users, the site provides latest live capture, feed, and information on the traffic situation. Visitors to the site are welcomed to participate in updating the traffic as well as getting the scoop on the latest condition.
If all else fails, whip out your gadgets and browse away while waiting for your turn to go. Be prepared for plenty of defensive driving if you’re behind the wheels as roads can be perilous with sea of motorcycles and buses. More importantly, be alert, stay patient and you’ll be home before you know it.
-MG-