The MetroMini minibus system was a major part of the public transport system of Jakarta. There were reportedly over 3,000 buses in the MetroMini fleet in mid-2012. The buses are similar to the parallel
Kopaja
Koperasi Angkutan Jakarta or Kopaja (Jakarta Transport Cooperative) was a cooperative established in 1971 to provide public transport services in Jakarta. There were reportedly over 1,400 minibuses in the Kopaja fleet in mid-2012, more than half ...
system which also provides transport services, on different routes, across Jakarta. The distinctive MetroMini buses are orange and blue with a white stripe running along the length of the bus. Buses provide seating for around 20-30 people with, often, an equal number crammed into limited standing room so the buses are often overcrowded. But at 2015 Jakarta Governor
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (, Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ''Chûng Van-ho̍k''; born 29 June 1966) is an Indonesian businessman, politician, and former governor of Jakarta. He is colloquially known by his Hakka Chinese name, Ahok (). He was the first ethnic C ...
stopped all of MetroMini's bus operations because of a MetroMini vs
KRL Commuter Line
KRL Commuterline, commonly known as Greater Jakarta Commuter rail, Jakarta Commuter rail, and KRL Commuter Line Jabodetabek is a commuter rail system for Greater Jakarta in Indonesia. It was previously known as KRL Jabodetabek. It is operated ...
crash. If MetroMini wants to operate again, it has to join
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
like the Kopaja as a feeder bus. Many routes are/will replaced/replaced by
Minitrans and
Metrotrans buses.
Policy issues
There is considerable public debate in Jakarta about the services provided by the minibus fleets. The minibus systems are, at best, only loosely regulated. They are part of the large informal sector which underpins the more formalised part of the Jakarta economy.
On one hand, the buses are cheap and plentiful. On the other hand, passengers frequently complain about the quality of services. For example, safety is often compromised by this practice of overloading. In addition, the drivers are often reckless and do not pay attention to traffic signs and other traffic.
[ See also,]
Taming minibus drivers'
''The Jakarta Post'', 20 October 2012. Like the Kopaja buses, the MetroMini bus diesel vehicles are often badly maintained and contribute significant amounts of pollution in Jakarta. Indeed, many of the buses are known to operate without such basic equipment as handbrakes and speedometers. Some observers take the view that the structure of the Minibus system, which is largely run by individuals operating in a semi-legal manner, needs to be better regulated. In principle, bus operators are required to abide by Indonesian laws and regulations about public transportation. But in practice, operators often ignore these laws. For example, in principle, public transport is required to be provided by legal firms which have a corporate structure but this is generally not the case with the MetroMini buses. Some bus owners are reported to have formed a cooperative but the corporate arrangements are described as "ramshackle."
Routes

MetroMini buses are numbered and travel along designated routes. The numbers are sometimes a little hard to spot since they are posted in a somewhat random fashion on the buses, usually on the front and back windows and sometimes (or alternatively) on the side windows as well. There are also designated bus stops but the bus stops are rarely used. Rather, passengers just wave down the slowly travelling passing buses and later just indicate the spot where they wish to alight. Conductors hanging out of the front or rear doors of the minibuses who are often shouting the destination as the buses travel along (such as, "Senen, Senen, Senen" on route Nos 001 to 010 listed below), facilitate these arrangements. For foreign visitors who may be unsure of routes, often the best thing to do is just ask another passenger for directions.
[Munir Winkel,]
. ''Jakarta Post Weekender'', 11 July 2012.
Minibus services often do not adhere to regular travel interval arrangements or schedules. MetroMini drivers often stop for quite a long time at the ''halte'' (bus stop) waiting for potential passengers. This practice of halting for a period at bus stops is popularly called ''ngetem'', probably derived from "time" (because the drivers are taking their time). The result is that buses plying the same route often catch up and overtake each other in a rather random way while competing for passengers.
List of routes
The following is the set of routes currently in service. The bus numbers and routes sometime show prefix letters which indicate the following:
* P = Central Jakarta (''Jakarta Pusat'')
* B = West Jakarta (''Jakarta Barat'')
* S = South Jakarta (''Jakarta Selatan'')
* T = East Jakarta (''Jakarta Timur'')
* U = North Jakarta (''Jakarta Utara)
From
Pasar Senen
Senen (or Senen Toyota Rangga, with Toyota Astra Motor granted for naming rights) is a Transjakarta Bus station, bus rapid transit station located at the western end of Letjen Suprapto street in Senen, Jakarta, Indonesia, which serves corridors ...
001
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- RS Islam Cempaka Putih - Taman Solo
003
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Cempaka Putih - Rawamangun
005
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Johar Baru - Mardani
007
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Cempaka Mas - Semper
010
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Kemayoran - Sunter
011
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Kemayoran - Bendungan Jago
015
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Sabang -
Setiabudi
Setiabudi is a district in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia. It is part of the Golden Triangle of Jakarta (), the centre of business and commercial establishments in the city. Setiabudi is named after an Indonesian hero of part ...
017
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Cikini - Manggarai
047
Senen
Senen is a long-established urban district () of Central Jakarta, Indonesia that has kept many tourist attractions such as two museums, the National Library of Indonesia, , and narrow alleys with old Chinese and similar style shops and restaura ...
- Cempaka Putih - Pondok Kopi
From Tanjung Priok
023 Tanjung Priok - Cilincing
024 Tanjung Priok - Sunter - Senen (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 10K)
From Kota
029 Kota - Pademangan - Sunter
030 Kota - Pluit - Muara Angke
From Pulo Gadung
041 Pulo Gadung - Tugu - Tanjung Priok
042 Pulo Gadung - Penggilingan - Perumnas Klender
043 Pulo Gadung - Pondok Ungu - Seroja
044 Pulo Gadung - Penggilingan - Pulo Gebang (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 11D)
045 Pulo Gadung - Jatiwaringin - Pondok Gede (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 4F (extended until
Pinang Ranti)
046 Pulo Gadung - Utan Kayu - Kampung Melayu
049 Pulo Gadung - Rawamangun Muka - Utan Kayu - Pramuka - Tambak - Manggarai
From Kampung Melayu
050 Kampung Melayu - Duren Sawit - Perumnas Klender
052 Kampung Melayu - Buaran - Stasiun Cakung (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 11Q)
053 Kampung Melayu - Otista - Dewi Sartika - Condet - Kampung Rambutan
054 Kampung Melayu - Kalimalang - Pondok Kelapa (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 7P (Starting from BKN Cililitan))
506 Kampung Melayu - Klender - Pondok Kopi
783 Kampung Melayu - Kalimalang - Cibubur - Cileungsi
From Manggarai
060 Manggarai - Tebet - Kampung Melayu
061 Manggarai - Bukit Duri - Kampung Melayu
062 Manggarai - Pancoran - Pasar Minggu (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 4B (extended until
University of Indonesia
The University of Indonesia (UI; ) is a public university in Depok, West Java and Salemba, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the oldest tertiary-level educational institutions in Indonesia (known as the Dutch East Indies when UI was established) ...
))
From
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
069
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Kyai Maja - Kreo - Ciledug
070
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Pos Pengumben - Joglo (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 8D)
071
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Tanah Kusir - Kodam Bintaro (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 8E)
072
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Pasar Mayestik - Radio Dalam - Pondok Indah – Lebak Bulus
074
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Tanah Kusir - Rempoa (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 1Q)
075
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Tendean - Warung Buncit - Mampang - Pejaten Barat -
Pasar Minggu
Pasar Minggu is a district () in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific ...
(Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 6U)
076
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Cilandak - Tol TB. Simatupang - Kampung Rambutan
077
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Bangka - Mampang - Ragunan Depan
078
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Mayestik - Kebayoran Lama - Cidodol
079
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Fatmawati - Lebak Bulus
610
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Cipete - RS Fatmawati - Pondok Labu (Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 1E)
611
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Pondok Pinang - Pasar Jumat - Lebak Bulus
619
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Pangeran Antasari - TB Simatupang - RS Fatmawati - Pondok Labu - Cinere
733
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Bintara - Kranji
811
Blok M
Blok M is a business and shopping quarter located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Indonesia. It runs east from Iskandarsyah street to Bulungan street in the west. North from Falatehan street to Melawai street in the south. The development is si ...
- Lebak Bulus - Rempoa - Bintaro
From Kalideres
082 Kalideres - Kamal - Kapuk - Grogol
084 Kalideres - Pluit - Kota
085 Kalideres - Permata Hijau - Lebak Bulus
Other routes
058 Cililitan - Pondok Bambu - Perumnas Klender
064
Pasar Minggu
Pasar Minggu is a district () in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific ...
- Kalibata - Cililitan
091 Batusari - Tanjung Duren - Citraland - Grogol - Roxy Mas -
Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang () is a districts of Indonesia, district of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The district hosts the biggest textile Market (place), market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market. It also hosts Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Kelurahan Gelora ...
(Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 8K)
092 Joglo - Kedoya - Jalan Panjang - Daan Mogot - Grogol
640
Pasar Minggu
Pasar Minggu is a district () in the administrative city of South Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific ...
- Pancoran - Gatot Subroto - Thamrin - Tosari -
Tanah Abang
Tanah Abang () is a districts of Indonesia, district of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The district hosts the biggest textile Market (place), market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market. It also hosts Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Kelurahan Gelora ...
(Now became
Transjakarta
Transjakarta (stylised in all-lowercase, often erroneously called Busway, sometimes shortened as TJ and branded as TiJe) or Jakarta BRT is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jakarta, Indonesia. The first BRT system in Southeast Asia, it commenc ...
route 9D)
719 Lebak Bulus - Pondok Gede - Jatiasih
789 Perumnas Klender - Pulo Gadung - Harapan Indah
792 Perumnas Klender - Pondok Kelapa - Bekasi
Fatal accidents and incidents
* On 7 March 1994, a Metromini with license plate number B-7821-VW majoring Semper-Pasar Senen, sank in
Sunter River
The Sunter River or ''Kali Sunter'' is a river that flows in the eastern part of Jakarta, Indonesia. The river is about 37 km long and has 73,184,092 m2 of river basin. Neighborhoods along the Kali Sunter are very densely populated and prone ...
,
North Jakarta
North Jakarta (; ), abbreviated as Jakut, is one of the five administrative cities (''kota administrasi'') which form Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia. North Jakarta is not self-governed and does not have a city council, hence it is ...
. The bus, which was driven at high speed, ran off the road and plunged into Sunter River. A 30 passengers died and a number of other victims who were still alive and injured were treated at Islam Hospital, Medika Griya Hospital and Koja Hospital. Meanwhile, the bodies of those who died were laid to rest at the
Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital mortuary.
References
{{Reflist, colwidth=40em
Bus transport in Jakarta