Crazy Traffic: Bali

As most of you know who have visited Bali that the traffic along Jalan Legian is at a snail’s pace at night. What’s even worse is when you are walking down the street at these times you can almost choke from the car exhaust fumes. The situation becomes even worse during holiday periods such as Idul Fitri when there are literally thousands of inter-island residents descending on the island in their own vehicles.

However, it seems that the Bali Government is looking to steps to improve the situation of crazy traffic and traffic jams according to a recent report in the Bali Discovery:

The national news agency Antara reports that Bali’s administration is looking for way to reduce the number of motorized vehicles in Bali as a means of easing pollution and growing traffic congestion.

Addressing a plenary session of the Bali Parliament (DPRD) convened to discuss the Island’s draft budget for 2008, Governor Made Beratha said, “By controlling the number of cars, we also hope to maintain the road infrastructures and decrease the accident rate.”

Higher Road Taxes Ahead

If the government follows through with its plans, road taxes charged in 2008 on local vehicles will be increased in a move to reduce private vehicle ownership.

According to Antara, Bali’s government has set a target of Rp. 275.57 billion (US$29.6 million) for vehicle ownership taxes in 2007, an increase of 15% as compared to 2006.