This photo essay is my first recent attempt at something

more photojournalistic than my normal stuff, which is

becoming increasingly abstract and often devoid of

people. It’s not art, for sure.

Since some of the best subjects are right under our

noses (or in this case, up our noses?), I decided to

conquer my healthy distrust of public transport to

explore one of Jakarta’s more notorious bus operators.

Rather than writing a lengthy piece to accompany the

photos, which are self-explanatory really, I wrote a

somewhat satirical rhyme to accompany the reader

through the pages; plus a few captions. Anyone who

has visited Jakarta or who is lucky enough to reside

here will know exactly what I am writing about.

It’s a hundred miles from balanced reportage, but to

be honest, right here, right now these buses get the

urban transport job done, and I can’t deny that. The

negative aspects of their service are manifold, including

traffic congestion, risks to public safety and air pollution.

As a long-term guest in this beautiful nation, it’s not

polite for me to criticise too much. Sebastiao Salgado

would surely have taken a braver approach. I’m just

happy to have survived the experience.

I hope you enjoy this essay and that it gives those

unfamiliar with Jakarta an insight into one aspect of

everyday life for the teeming millions who call it home.

Steve

Corporate graphic standards don’treally exist beyond the orange, whiteand blue livery. The logotype appearsin a myriad of forms, from stenciled tohand painted versions.

A typical example of the breed.Coachbuilt in filler over rusty sheetsteel. No signal lamps of course, anda bumper that bears the scars ofcountless collisions with motorists.

We’re not talking visibility here. Thename of the game is ‘cover as muchof the windscreen as possible in gaudyadhesive vinyl.’ It’s not like you needto see where you’re going anyway.

Though bus owners are generallyconsidered a rather macho bunch,they’re obviously not afraid to expresstheir softer, feminine side once in awhile and pretty things up.

Though drivers of smaller vehicles mayfeel the need to keep both hands onthe wheel, a bus can easily be steeredwith one hand at all times, leaving theother hand free to hold your smoke.

Just so you’re all aware that we reallydo care about the environment, we’llwhack a big flower graphic on the filthywindow. There...that should makeeverything better now.

Rumor has it that these buses haddoors once, but little evidence remainsof that today. Besides they’d just getin the way of passengers. And rain andstuff.

Buses jostle for pole position at thetraffic lights as they depart the hecticBlok M bus terminal in Jakarta. Itappears that their impressive ‘trafficcontrol tower’ is unmanned 24/7.

Note the red turn light the busesleaving this terminal routinely ignore,and of course the plume of noxiousdiesel fumes that most Metro Miniscontribute to Jakarta’s air quality.

Says it all really, doesn’t it? That’s ifmacho means being ancient, fallingapart, filthy, smelly, hazardous, noisyand extremely ugly.

You’d think we could use all those bigshiny mirrors to drive more safely.Yeah, right. We just like to get a niceclear view of all the people we’repissing off behind us.

Bus passengers are a captive audiencefor all kinds of street vendors andbuskers, which is just fine if you happento fancy some live music onboard oryou forgot to bring your toothbrush.

Well you can’t say I didn’t warn you,can you? After all, I have the companyreputation to uphold, haven’t I?The 69 is just my route of course.

Metro Moron is my third contribution to the

annual Solo Photo Book Month, or SoFoBoMo.

It’s a web-based group event started in 2008

by Paul Butzi. dubbed ‘The worst photo

competition in the world’ because there are no

prizes and no glory for participants beyond

personal satisfaction. Solo photographers around

the world create and upload photo books in

PDF form, within one ‘fuzzy’ calendar month,

start to finish. Find out more at:

www.sofobomo.org

You can also view my previous SoFoBoMo efforts

and other personal publications online at:

http://issuu.com/stevedodds

Issuu is a fantastic way to self-publish and share

online, as well as discover and connect globally

with the work of others who share your interests.

I thoroughly recommend exploring issuu.com.

Terima kasih! (Indonesian for ‘thank you’)