500 Bogor City Hall Geruduk Drivers, Challenge Mayor Dedie: Don't Ignore Our Fate!

Hundreds of angkot drivers held a demonstration at Bogor City Hall, Thursday, October 23, 2025 (VOI)

BOGOR Hundreds of city transportation (angkot) drivers held a massive demonstration in front of the Bogor City Hall, Thursday, October 2. The action, which began that morning, resulted in blocking the road in front of the City Hall at around 11.00 WIB after the drivers felt that their demands were not responded to by the local government.

The coordinator of the action, Rusamudra or who is familiarly called Derin, said that around 500 drivers from 25 routes in Bogor City participated in the operating strike. They insisted on waiting for the presence of the Mayor of Bogor, Dedie Rachim, after the results of the meeting with the Deputy Mayor and the Regional Secretary were deemed unsatisfactory.

"Our main demand is simple, so that the angkot rejuvenation policy is reopened," said Derin.

According to him, the drivers did not reject the government's program regarding reducing the number of angkots or the implementation of the shift system. However, they questioned the reasons for stopping the rejuvenation program, which has been a legal route for updating the fleet.

"Not to refuse, we support reductive, our government program also supports us. But why should rejuvenation be stopped? It should be reopened, but it should not require new cars. For example, it is permissible in 2017 or 2018 so that we can continue to operate beyond the age of 20," he explained.

In addition to demanding the reopening of the rejuvenation program, the drivers also asked the local government to stop raids that were considered arrogant and extend the age limit for vehicle operations.

"These angkot arrests please stop, don't be arrogant from the service. We also ask that the angkot age limit be extended," said Derin.

This demand comes amid the discourse of removing public transportation over the age of 20 which is expected to target around 1,940 units by 2026. Rusamudra assessed that the elimination without a clear rejuvenation solution would have a serious impact on the driver's socio-economics.

"If 1,940 angkots are removed, multiplied by three people per unit, it could be thousands who have lost their jobs. The impact is big on Bogor City," he said.

He also expressed his disappointment with the leadership of Bogor Mayor Dedie Rachim and Deputy Mayor Jenal Mutaqin. Drivers feel that their voices are ignored even though the public has a significant voter base.

"Why do we choose the mayor if it turns out that we don't pay attention to the fate of angkot drivers. Of the 3,000 angkots in Bogor, only 1,940 were to be removed. That's multiplied by three drivers, all of them used to choose the mayor," said Derin.

He emphasized that the drivers will stay in front of the City Hall until they meet directly with Mayor Dedie Rachim to get clarity. "We will stay here until the mayor comes and gives an answer," he concluded.

Derin also rejected the assumption that angkot was the source of traffic jams in Bogor City. "I don't like it when someone says angkot is the cause of traffic jams. It's just a sentiment from people who want to remove public transportation from Bogor," he concluded.