Traffic is one of the biggest issues facing Bali on a day-to-day basis right now. From Canggu to Ubud, Legian to Uluwatu, with tens of thousands more vehicles on the roads and millions of tourists arriving, it’s easy to see why the island’s road network is struggling.
Leaders in Bali’s Badung Regency are looking to implement major traffic changes close to top attractions to make it easier for tourists to travel around the island.
Traffic isn’t typically something tourists have to think about when on vacation; in fact, skipping out on early morning rush hour congestion is one of the appeals of an international holiday for many. Yet, in Bali, it is almost impossible to enjoy a vacation without encountering traffic congestion at some point.
The Regent of Badung, Wayan Adi Arnawa, who is in charge of top destinations like Canggu, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu, has spoken to reporters about his plans to tackle traffic jams around the island’s most famous attractions, destinations, and landmarks. There are plans to create a new public transport lane in Kuta that is set to have a two-fold effect. The first is to improve public transport connectivity, and in turn reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Speaking at a plenary meeting for the pilot project, Regent Arnawa addressed members of the Badung Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD). He shared, “I have a desire to prepare a road section in the future. Yes, a dedicated road section, a dedicated lane for public transportation.”
His plan focuses on the Kuta and Legian areas first and foremost, with the aim of adapting the model to other areas of Badung Regency experiencing traffic congestion, such as Canggu and Uluwatu.
He explained that, for example, tourists heading to Kuta would arrive at a central parking area with a designated terminal before hopping on a bus that offers drop-off and pick-up points at popular destinations.
Regent Arnawa shared, “From [a central parking point], tourists will take public transportation, and we’ll create a dedicated route to Kuta. In the first quadrant, in accordance with the study, we’ll focus on Legian, Warung Made to the west, Hard Rock, and Pullman to the east. That’s all we’ll try to create for now, dedicated routes for public transportation.”
He explained how once the initial route is complete, the next phase will be put into motion. The second phase will involve engaging with investors to develop a new public transportation network. The Regent noted that before that stage, he and his teams must first organize parking in the Kuta area.
The Regent shared, “Because if we look at Kuta, the roads are very narrow. We’re currently pushing to start clearing several areas of land to prepare parking lots. This will clear them and allow space for public transportation to traverse the entire stretch.”
Regent Arnawa continued, “Why am I focusing on infrastructure? Because one of the issues is congestion. If we don’t address this seriously now, it’s possible that our tourism sector could also be hampered.”
Speaking last week, Regent Arnawa addressed concerns that there are simply too many vehicles in the region. Despite the population of Badung Regency sitting at around 500,000 people, there are officially one million vehicles registered in the area.
He told reporters, “The growth of vehicles in Badung has been very significant and requires a comprehensive evaluation.” Adding “It’s not just Badung residents who operate vehicles in Badung. Many come from outside the region. So, it can’t be solved alone; there needs to be a comprehensive policy for all of Bali.”
He added, “Perhaps we need to sit down together and discuss what steps we should take. Especially since Badung is over capacity. I’ll probably also convey this to the Governor to consider whether there needs to be additional capacity,”
Concluding, “If this isn’t addressed seriously now, it’s possible our tourism sector will also be hampered. Therefore, in addition to infrastructure, restrictions on vehicles and public transportation must go hand in hand.”
Badung Regency may wish to take a leaf out of Denpasar City’s book. Over in Sanur, the new Sanur Shuttle Bus Service and a crackdown on illegal parking have made a huge difference to traffic congestion issues and pedestrian access to the island’s oldest coastal resort.
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