Ojek Gerobak: Making A Fortune In The Middle Of A Flood

JAKARTA - For two days now, a number of points in Jakarta have been under water. A number of roads were impassable due to standing water.

On Jalan Kembangan Raya, West Jakarta, for example, traffic there is paralyzed. The noise of the exhaust and horns that are common in this area, has not been heard. Street dust is the same, disappeared, replaced with puddles. This area looks like an infinity pool with brown water.

This area is impassable. If you are desperate, your vehicle can crash. Officials of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government of Transportation were on standby, guarding that no vehicles force their way through.

From this phenomenon, there are a number of people who take advantage of it and become fortunate for them. A number of carts are on standby looking for people or motorbikes to cross the Meruya-Ciledug connecting road because of this puddle.

One of the motorbike taxis approached the VOI team who were observing this road. Just mention his name, Dani (35).

"Where are you going, neng? You can't use a motorbike. In this case, the floods are sedada. Just ride a cart, do you want ?," he told VOI, on Jalan Kembangan Raya, West Jakarta, Thursday, December 2. We refused with smiles, for one reason or another.

Not only Dani, there are many motorbike taxis here. They work in groups. Several people pushed one cart.

They offer their services to several people who are just down the road who are not submerged in water. Many use their services, but there are also those who choose to turn around, looking for alternative ways.

While monitoring conditions in this area, Dani came back to us and offered his services. He said, the ojek fare was Rp.30 thousand each way.

"Rp. 30 thousand. Until that end (direction Ciledug). Later you can take the toll. How come you can take the motorbike toll," he said.

Even though there is a ban on crossing this road, there are several cars that insist. Mostly, they were the ones who headed for Meruya and made it through these obstacles.

There are also a number of online motorcycle taxis that use this cart service. They even bring their vehicles and passengers to cross this puddle. They take this step so that the passengers can get to their destination even though the payment is more than what is stated in the application.

"I prefer to ride a cart. Instead of my motorbike dying. It's a hassle again. It's okay to get a little wet, it'll dry out too," said an online motorcycle taxi driver who uses this cart service.