The jakarta city administration plans to establish motorcycles lanes and change operating hours at certain state and private institutions in an attempt to ease traffic congestion in the jakarta city.

With motorcycles comprising nearly two-thirds of the 5.5 million vehicles that pack the jakarta city's streets every day, chaotic traffic in the capital has long been a problem. The large number of motorcycles also raises safety concerns, as motorbike riders are reportedly less disciplined compared to automobile drivers.

"Although motorcycles are prohibited from riding in the left land in some parts of the jakarta jakarta city, many riders simply ignore the law," transportation agency head M. Tauchid Tjakra Amidjaja said on Friday at jakarta jakarta city Hall.

"We will use portions of existing streets and place signs and road markings exclusively for motorcycles. To start, we will be designating such lanes on roads where Transjakarta lines operate," he added.

"We will cooperate with the police to implement the program. We hope the new system can begin operating next year," he said.

According to the agency's records, there has been a 300 percent increase in the number of motorcycles in the jakarta jakarta city over the past four years.

Dedy Arief, from traffic management consultant PT Pamintori Cipta, said designated motorcycle lanes would be effective in easing traffic congestion.

"Take a look at Jl. Sudirman, which provides a slow lane for motorcycles and public transportation, and a fast one for cars. The proportion of motorcycles on that street was only about 38 percent, while on other roads it is up to 50," Dedy added.

"We should learn from Shanghai, which is successfully dealing with its motorcycle problem," he said, adding traffic congestion has compelled many Jakartans to buy motorcycles.

"Many riders think they can save both time and money, compared to taking public transportation. Actually, they're wrong," Dedy said.

"By our calculations, having a motorcycle costs more because you have to spend on operational expenses, such as for service, gas and monthly installments," he explained. According to him, consistent law enforcement is required for the program to run smoothly, with enforcement to be monitored through closed-circuit television.

The jakarta jakarta city's plan for designated motorbike lanes received a warm response from some riders.

Ken Handita, 32, said he hoped the plan could be realized soon.

"I hope the administration really is serious about it, not just paying lip service," said Ken, who commutes daily from his home in Cinere, Depok, to his office in Palmerah, West Jakarta.

Another rider, Ilham Annas, said the administration should properly prepare the lanes.

"It should provide good and proper facilities (for the lanes). Actually, the most important thing is not the lanes themselves, but the discipline among road users," Ilham added.

Besides designated lanes, the administration is also considering alterations to operating hours for state and private companies, claiming the strategy might distribute traffic more evenly throughout the day.

According to Dedy, the plan could minimize the number of motorcycles on the street and ease traffic congestion.

"What happens now is motorists pack the streets almost all at once. So, it would be great if the administration could change companies' working hours," he said.

"If state companies, for instance, started operating at about 7:30 a.m., private ones could begin at about 9 a.m. There should be a significant time gap so that motorists would not pack the streets at the same time," he added.

Working hours for civil servants officially begin at 8 a.m.

Dedy admitted changing operating hours would not be easy as it would require cooperation from various institutions.

Deputy Governor Prijanto said the administration would look into the program.