(Transport 6 of 14) - Bajaj

The Jakartan equivalent to Thailand's tuk-tuk is the bajaj ("BADGE-eye") or an "Auto rickshaw", it is usually colored orange and very noisy, sounding like a wheezing grouchy old woman suffering from a hacking cough with a vintage 1800’s piston aircraft attempting to fire up its engine.

These traditional vehicles became popular in India and later imported to and built in Indonesia. It is also known as a “tuk-tuk” in Thailand, an “auto” in India, a “motortaxi” in Peru and a “bajaj” here in Jakarta. The Bajaj is one of the main forms of transportation in Jakarta, the Bajaj seat two passengers comfortably and up to 4 passengers - depending on the size of the passenger.

Their areas of operation are limited to one mayoralty in the city. They're a popular way to get around town since they can weave through Jakarta's interminable traffic jams much like motorbikes can. A ride in a bajaj is hot, and extremely noisy, heavily polluted (car and bus fumes), bumpy and a rather harrowing adventure. There is some protection from the rain, unless it's blowing hard. Although slow, bone-jarring, ear-splitting and hot (locals joke about the "natural A/C" or “AC alam”) and the quick way to breathing in more exhaust fumes than you ever thought possible, the only advantage of the bajaj is it’s small size, allowing to weave in and out of heavy traffic when other vehicles cant.

There are no set prices, but a short hop of a few city blocks shouldn't cost much more than Rp 5,000. Be sure to haggle a price before you set off. Fare determination is by bargaining. It's always best to ask an Indonesian what they would pay for a trip to a particular destination from your point of departure, and then bargain and pay accordingly, and it is more expensive than the Mikrolet or the Transjakarta, but of course it’s a taxi after all and still cheaper than the regular taxi. Bajaj drivers are happy to overcharge visitors, and often can ask double or even more of what you would pay by meter in air-conditioned Blue Bird taxi (obviously, the normal price should be less than even for a cheaper variety of taxi).

Since bajajs aren't allowed on some of the larger roads (highways) in Jakarta, your route may well take you through the bewildering warren of backstreets. Try to keep an eye on what direction you're going, because most bajaj drivers see nothing wrong with taking the "scenic" route and then charging you double or triple the price.

Having said all that ... bajaj are extremely convenient in many areas of Jakarta for a short drive.






Typical on the streets.


Rare type of Bajaj..


A much more modern and quieter model.



Taking one of these always reminds me of this commercial!