Small Economics Entertainment Cars Are Still Circulating In Jakarta Even Though It Is Prohibited

Illustration of a rabbit train or odong-odong is parked in a resident's house. (Between)

JAKARTA The existence of odong-odong is still rampant in a number of areas of the capital city of Jakarta. In fact, toy vehicles are still easy to find in several tourist attractions, and often pass through protocol roads.

Odong-odong vehicles are generally the result of modifications of old cars, such as pick-ups, minibuses, and bajaj. Vehicles that are no longer fit for use and do not pass the emission test are again used for personal gain.

Modifications are carried out by adding seats and renovating light roofs made of iron frames and thin tarpaulins or fiber.

Odong-odong is then used to transport people, especially small economies that require entertainment at affordable costs.

However, this vehicle does not have adequate safety standards, it often even causes accidents in the community.

Responding to this phenomenon, transportation observer Muhammad Akbar assessed that odong-odong generally does not have proper safety facilities. There is no safety belt, no protection on the seating side, and children are allowed to sit in the open tub.

"Many vehicles used come from old frames that are not strengthened again, so they are prone to damage if there is a collision," said Akbar, Monday, July 14, 2025.

According to him, in such conditions, passengers are especially children at risk of being thrown or hit by a vehicle in the event of an accident. The potential for serious injury cannot be ignored because the vehicle is not designed to carry passengers safely.

Safety problems, Akbar continued, are becoming increasingly complex because odong-odong operates without clear legal status.

Most of these vehicles pass on public roads without official permits as passenger transport, do not have a permanent route, are driven by motorists without special training, and are not accompanied by insurance protection for passengers," he said.

In fact, this practice clearly contradicts Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation.

However, the weakness of law enforcement, plus the community's tolerance for small business actors who depend on odong-odong, makes this practice continue without adequate supervision.