As a Jakartan that relies heavily on public transport (by that I mean busses and angkot and not taxies) I came pretty close at observing the daily lives of these bus drivers and their kenek.
I’m sure you often wonder:
Why do they drive so recklessly?
Why do they stop under a no stopping sign?
Why do they cause so much traffic?
Why are they unreliable?
For your insight on why they cause so much pollution and traffic or driving recklessly…here’s some common driver’s terminologies
‘Bis’ is a bus, range in size of a ¾ bus with seating capacity of around 25 (Metromini, Kopaja and Koantas Bima) and a full size bus, usually called ‘Bis Kota’ (PPD, AJAP etc.). The seating capacity of a bis kota is around 55. The air conditioned bus is always a full size bus called ‘Bis AC’ or ‘Patas AC’. Even if you find an air conditioned ¾ size bus it must be chartered and not public. There is virtually no limit to how many people can fit into a single bus. ¾ bus is known to carry up to 80+ people, full size bus can carry more than 100. There is a law against this, but laws are meant to be broken.
‘Angkot’ is a small sized transportation mode. It has a seating capacity of 12 to 14 people. Angkot is either a Toyota Kijang or a Daihatsu Carry. Because it is the size of a normal car, angkot’s route can reached smaller roads. Angkot is primarily a market to market transportation, so don’t be surprise if you are sitting next to meats and vegetables. Standing on the edge of the angkot is illegal, but then again nobody cares.
‘Sopir’ is the driver of the bus or angkot. Angkot drivers are generally friendlier than bus driver. They have fewer setoran and fuel consumption. They usually live around its route area, so they often meet their neighbors when they’re driving. Usually the neighbors don’t have to pay.
‘Kenek’ is the assistant of the driver. Kenek is not commonly found in angkot. The main responsibility of a kenek includes collecting the fare from the passenger. Kenek is also responsible for ensuring that the bus fits its maximum capacity by telling the passenger to move further inside and making sure that every nooks and crannies are filled with passengers. Kenek tells the driver if a passenger is dropping off, they also tell the passenger what the next stop is going to be. Kenek is the driver’s eyes and ears. He is on the lookout of rivaling bus behind and in front of the bus. He warns the driver of any hazards such as incoming traffic, and is responsible to stop or slowing other vehicle to ensure that the bus move as quickly as possible. All payments are kenek’s responsibility including buying drinks and cigarettes and paying the ‘timer’
‘timer’ (1) keeps record of passing bus, there is a particular spot where timer can be found. A timer is specific to different route and has specific authority to specific numbered bus. A timer keeps record of which bus passes them and at what time. Therefore a timer is a valuable source of information of who is in front of them and at what distance. Knowing this allows the driver to calculate its speed so that the maximum number of passenger is found. Once it was optional to tip a timer, today it is compulsory.
‘timer’ (2). People responsible for unofficial terminals are also called timers. Their job is to find passengers for stopping busses and angkot. An angkot or bus must pay a fee for stopping in their area usually equals to two passenger’s fare, in exchange that the timer finds passengers until the angkot is full. If the angkot is not full and the driver refuses to wait any longer, the driver can continue driving and pay the timer for half the price. Timers are also responsible for any hassles from the police once they are in their area. Timers can warn the driver to flea, or if the driver is fined and license taken, he is responsible to get it back.
‘timer’ (3). It is illegal for a bus or an angkot to make a timed stop at bus halts and no stopping zones. This third type of timer, makes it okay. They watch for police and city officials, but usually can do little if the drivers are fined.
‘polis’ is the driver’s term for Police. For any rule breaking, the police can take action from fining, seizing the driver’s licence or bus registration
‘pamong praja’ or ‘PP’ for short, are not police, they are under the city government and dress in blue. Usually the department of transportation, they only have the power to seize the driver’s route license or ‘KIR’ (Kartu Izin Rute).
‘sewa’ describes the passenger or potential passenger in general.
‘setoran’ is a sum of money that is required to be delivered to the bus owner, since most drivers don’t own a bus. It is predetermined, usually around Rp.200,000 for a ¾ bus and more for a full size bus but really depends on the owner itself. If the route is further, or in a crowded street, the setoran is usually more. Driver and his kenek can keep any money beyond that. If the money falls short of setoran, drivers must pay the next day or face termination of work.
‘ongkos’ is a bus fare. For a ¾ bus, the fare is Rp.2,000 unless it is using a toll road. If so, expect to pay Rp.2,500 to Rp.3,000. The same fare applies for a non AC bus. Sometimes for a really far route it can go up to Rp.4,000. AC bus is at least Rp.5,000 and for really far route, especially to the suburbs it can go up to Rp.8,000. For buses, the fare is for one trip, regardless of your distance. Angkot however depends on distance. Angkot can charge Rp.1,500 for a short trip and Rp.4,000 from end to end.
‘trayek’ is the route. It is agreed upon and discussed by the drivers association and the city department of transportation. It is illegal for a bus to go off its route, and they rarely do so, unless to avoid traffic.
‘rit’ means one return trip. A driver must not exceed the agreed rit quota, to give opportunities for other drivers. Exceeding the quota bears risks of physical harm or excommunication.
‘Ngetem’ is making a timed stop. Ngetem in the unofficial terminal depends on how long it takes to fill up the bus or angkot. Bus or angkot is on the first come, first serve basis. Ngetem in bus halts or other stops lasts for a few minutes. If another bus comes than the previous one is obliged to leave. Usually in this stop there can only be one or two busses at one time. If a bus not ngetem is taking the potential passenger of the ngetem busses, they face consequences ranging from verbal abuse, physical threat or damage to their vehicle.
‘Nembak’ is to be an unofficial driver. Usually this unofficial driver is employed when the official driver has already enough setoran. They are on a one off basis and are given a percentage. It is also common for a driver already exceeding the daily quota to nembak.
‘Rapet’ is a situation when two busses of the same route are driving close to one another. Both busses go as fast as possible in order to get as many passengers as possible. They also compete to gain a favorable position, like being the first to reach the terminal or stop.
‘Nahan’ is a situation when the bus moves as slow as possible in the hopes that it gets the desired distance from its rival ahead. By slowing down, passengers would pile up and more can be carried. As consequence, the bus behind it gets little or no passengers.
‘Narik’ is a term used to describe that a bus or a driver is in service.
‘Nyodok’ is when a bus overtakes the bus in front of him. It used to be the timer 1’s job to ensure that this does not happen because busses run in a particular order, by agreement of the bus driver’s guild. However, today this restriction is rarely practiced because of inefficiency of its enforcement. It can also describe the next bus to make a time stop and signaling the previous bus that it is now their
‘Lari’ is when a bus drives faster than normal. Lari does not necessarily means that it is rapet
‘Pangkalan’ is a base or pool. Usually an empty ground hired by the driver or owner of the bus.
‘kiri’ signals that a passenger is getting off. It is also common for a passenger to shout ‘kiri’ to the driver or kenek
Two digit numbers such as ‘02’ or ‘65’ is the two last digits of a bus license plate number that signifies which bus are which. For example, B 9876 YZ is nicknamed ‘76’. A particular bus is driven by a particular driver, unless someone is nembak. Knowing who is in front or behind them, drivers can figure out the driving style of their direct rivals i.e. like to nyodok, nahan or lari. A driver also rely on other driver going in a different direction of who is in front of them and how long ago
‘pulang’ indicates that the bus is going home
‘muter’ indicates that the bus is turning around, and the remaining passengers are being transferred. The reason can be going home, or see that it is more profitable for them to go in the other direction. This usually happens at night especially when the bus is traveling in front of a mall or office at the time when the workers are going home.
‘oper’, if a bus is going home, or turning around while still carrying passengers they can transfer the passenger to another bus. The bus that gives the passengers shares a fraction of the fare of the passengers to the given bus.
‘bawah’ means that the bus does not take a toll road. This gives the opportunity for passengers to get off closer than if the bus were to go via toll. For the bus, it means more passengers but could lose crucial time.
‘langsung’ means that the bus claims to go right away and does not ngetem, although this claim is rarely credible.
‘tol’ means toll road
‘dua-dua’ or ‘kanan-kiri’ translation: ‘two by two’ and ‘left right’. The term is exclusive to busses only. It indicates that the kenek asks the standing passenger to stand back to back side ways. This position allows the bus to be more space efficient and can fit more passengers.
‘empat enam’ translation: ‘four six’. The term is exclusive for angkot, indicating that the driver asks the passenger to sit in the most space efficient way possible, four people can sit in the left side and six people can sit in the right side. Two people can sit in the front and two more sit facing the back directly behind the driver.
I’m sure you often wonder:
Why do they drive so recklessly?
Why do they stop under a no stopping sign?
Why do they cause so much traffic?
Why are they unreliable?
For your insight on why they cause so much pollution and traffic or driving recklessly…here’s some common driver’s terminologies
‘Bis’ is a bus, range in size of a ¾ bus with seating capacity of around 25 (Metromini, Kopaja and Koantas Bima) and a full size bus, usually called ‘Bis Kota’ (PPD, AJAP etc.). The seating capacity of a bis kota is around 55. The air conditioned bus is always a full size bus called ‘Bis AC’ or ‘Patas AC’. Even if you find an air conditioned ¾ size bus it must be chartered and not public. There is virtually no limit to how many people can fit into a single bus. ¾ bus is known to carry up to 80+ people, full size bus can carry more than 100. There is a law against this, but laws are meant to be broken.
‘Angkot’ is a small sized transportation mode. It has a seating capacity of 12 to 14 people. Angkot is either a Toyota Kijang or a Daihatsu Carry. Because it is the size of a normal car, angkot’s route can reached smaller roads. Angkot is primarily a market to market transportation, so don’t be surprise if you are sitting next to meats and vegetables. Standing on the edge of the angkot is illegal, but then again nobody cares.
‘Sopir’ is the driver of the bus or angkot. Angkot drivers are generally friendlier than bus driver. They have fewer setoran and fuel consumption. They usually live around its route area, so they often meet their neighbors when they’re driving. Usually the neighbors don’t have to pay.
‘Kenek’ is the assistant of the driver. Kenek is not commonly found in angkot. The main responsibility of a kenek includes collecting the fare from the passenger. Kenek is also responsible for ensuring that the bus fits its maximum capacity by telling the passenger to move further inside and making sure that every nooks and crannies are filled with passengers. Kenek tells the driver if a passenger is dropping off, they also tell the passenger what the next stop is going to be. Kenek is the driver’s eyes and ears. He is on the lookout of rivaling bus behind and in front of the bus. He warns the driver of any hazards such as incoming traffic, and is responsible to stop or slowing other vehicle to ensure that the bus move as quickly as possible. All payments are kenek’s responsibility including buying drinks and cigarettes and paying the ‘timer’
‘timer’ (1) keeps record of passing bus, there is a particular spot where timer can be found. A timer is specific to different route and has specific authority to specific numbered bus. A timer keeps record of which bus passes them and at what time. Therefore a timer is a valuable source of information of who is in front of them and at what distance. Knowing this allows the driver to calculate its speed so that the maximum number of passenger is found. Once it was optional to tip a timer, today it is compulsory.
‘timer’ (2). People responsible for unofficial terminals are also called timers. Their job is to find passengers for stopping busses and angkot. An angkot or bus must pay a fee for stopping in their area usually equals to two passenger’s fare, in exchange that the timer finds passengers until the angkot is full. If the angkot is not full and the driver refuses to wait any longer, the driver can continue driving and pay the timer for half the price. Timers are also responsible for any hassles from the police once they are in their area. Timers can warn the driver to flea, or if the driver is fined and license taken, he is responsible to get it back.
‘timer’ (3). It is illegal for a bus or an angkot to make a timed stop at bus halts and no stopping zones. This third type of timer, makes it okay. They watch for police and city officials, but usually can do little if the drivers are fined.
‘polis’ is the driver’s term for Police. For any rule breaking, the police can take action from fining, seizing the driver’s licence or bus registration
‘pamong praja’ or ‘PP’ for short, are not police, they are under the city government and dress in blue. Usually the department of transportation, they only have the power to seize the driver’s route license or ‘KIR’ (Kartu Izin Rute).
‘sewa’ describes the passenger or potential passenger in general.
‘setoran’ is a sum of money that is required to be delivered to the bus owner, since most drivers don’t own a bus. It is predetermined, usually around Rp.200,000 for a ¾ bus and more for a full size bus but really depends on the owner itself. If the route is further, or in a crowded street, the setoran is usually more. Driver and his kenek can keep any money beyond that. If the money falls short of setoran, drivers must pay the next day or face termination of work.
‘ongkos’ is a bus fare. For a ¾ bus, the fare is Rp.2,000 unless it is using a toll road. If so, expect to pay Rp.2,500 to Rp.3,000. The same fare applies for a non AC bus. Sometimes for a really far route it can go up to Rp.4,000. AC bus is at least Rp.5,000 and for really far route, especially to the suburbs it can go up to Rp.8,000. For buses, the fare is for one trip, regardless of your distance. Angkot however depends on distance. Angkot can charge Rp.1,500 for a short trip and Rp.4,000 from end to end.
‘trayek’ is the route. It is agreed upon and discussed by the drivers association and the city department of transportation. It is illegal for a bus to go off its route, and they rarely do so, unless to avoid traffic.
‘rit’ means one return trip. A driver must not exceed the agreed rit quota, to give opportunities for other drivers. Exceeding the quota bears risks of physical harm or excommunication.
‘Ngetem’ is making a timed stop. Ngetem in the unofficial terminal depends on how long it takes to fill up the bus or angkot. Bus or angkot is on the first come, first serve basis. Ngetem in bus halts or other stops lasts for a few minutes. If another bus comes than the previous one is obliged to leave. Usually in this stop there can only be one or two busses at one time. If a bus not ngetem is taking the potential passenger of the ngetem busses, they face consequences ranging from verbal abuse, physical threat or damage to their vehicle.
‘Nembak’ is to be an unofficial driver. Usually this unofficial driver is employed when the official driver has already enough setoran. They are on a one off basis and are given a percentage. It is also common for a driver already exceeding the daily quota to nembak.
‘Rapet’ is a situation when two busses of the same route are driving close to one another. Both busses go as fast as possible in order to get as many passengers as possible. They also compete to gain a favorable position, like being the first to reach the terminal or stop.
‘Nahan’ is a situation when the bus moves as slow as possible in the hopes that it gets the desired distance from its rival ahead. By slowing down, passengers would pile up and more can be carried. As consequence, the bus behind it gets little or no passengers.
‘Narik’ is a term used to describe that a bus or a driver is in service.
‘Nyodok’ is when a bus overtakes the bus in front of him. It used to be the timer 1’s job to ensure that this does not happen because busses run in a particular order, by agreement of the bus driver’s guild. However, today this restriction is rarely practiced because of inefficiency of its enforcement. It can also describe the next bus to make a time stop and signaling the previous bus that it is now their
‘Lari’ is when a bus drives faster than normal. Lari does not necessarily means that it is rapet
‘Pangkalan’ is a base or pool. Usually an empty ground hired by the driver or owner of the bus.
‘kiri’ signals that a passenger is getting off. It is also common for a passenger to shout ‘kiri’ to the driver or kenek
Two digit numbers such as ‘02’ or ‘65’ is the two last digits of a bus license plate number that signifies which bus are which. For example, B 9876 YZ is nicknamed ‘76’. A particular bus is driven by a particular driver, unless someone is nembak. Knowing who is in front or behind them, drivers can figure out the driving style of their direct rivals i.e. like to nyodok, nahan or lari. A driver also rely on other driver going in a different direction of who is in front of them and how long ago
‘pulang’ indicates that the bus is going home
‘muter’ indicates that the bus is turning around, and the remaining passengers are being transferred. The reason can be going home, or see that it is more profitable for them to go in the other direction. This usually happens at night especially when the bus is traveling in front of a mall or office at the time when the workers are going home.
‘oper’, if a bus is going home, or turning around while still carrying passengers they can transfer the passenger to another bus. The bus that gives the passengers shares a fraction of the fare of the passengers to the given bus.
‘bawah’ means that the bus does not take a toll road. This gives the opportunity for passengers to get off closer than if the bus were to go via toll. For the bus, it means more passengers but could lose crucial time.
‘langsung’ means that the bus claims to go right away and does not ngetem, although this claim is rarely credible.
‘tol’ means toll road
‘dua-dua’ or ‘kanan-kiri’ translation: ‘two by two’ and ‘left right’. The term is exclusive to busses only. It indicates that the kenek asks the standing passenger to stand back to back side ways. This position allows the bus to be more space efficient and can fit more passengers.
‘empat enam’ translation: ‘four six’. The term is exclusive for angkot, indicating that the driver asks the passenger to sit in the most space efficient way possible, four people can sit in the left side and six people can sit in the right side. Two people can sit in the front and two more sit facing the back directly behind the driver.
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