Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution. To what extend do you agree or disagree?What other measure do you think might be effective?

The population growth has been contributing in the private vehicle ownership growth. As people need facility for mobilization, the number of private motor vehicle selling is also growing, especially in third world country like Indonesia. Today, we can see numbers of cars and motorbikes rushing every office hour, creating congestion. The vehicle gas emission also becomes worse in a traffic jam and makes the air more polluted.

Some believe that increasing the gasoline cost will reduce the number of motor vehicle usage. If the price of gasoline is increased, people will think twice before they use their vehicles. This will reduces the traffic load and air pollution. They believe that the increment will also contribute to improve country's income.

I must say that I don't agree on such option for some reasons. At first implementation, some people may hold their will to go out by private vehicle. After a while, people will adjust to the increment and continue to use their own vehicles to go out. Secondly, the increment will contribute to the inflation because the cost of transportation increases. Once the transport cost increases, it impacts the goods price. Consumer goods will be more expensive and reduce the value of money in the society.

The best way to reduce traffic that is commonly implemented in well developed country is providing Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) that meets the citizen needs. Most people will prefer to go out using MRT because it's cheaper and fast. They will also save some energy because they don't have to drive. Some countries also implement road pricing for high density roads to spread the concentration of vehicles. These solutions are suitable to reduce the traffic load and air pollution. They may not be implemented in a short term, but it's a long term project for better future.