East Java Offers 208,203 Free Rides To Eid Al-Fitr Travelers

  Surabaya, E Java (Antaranews jatim) - The East Java transportation office has offered a total of 208,203 seats in terms of free rides for travelers heading to their hometowns for the Eid al-Fitr Islamic festivities to fall on June 15-16, 2018.

"This is a national record, as East Java is providing 208,203 free rides, while nationally, there are only some 80 thousand free rides. It is amazing," Wahid Wahyudi stated here, Tuesday.

The East Java provincial administration is providing free rides via buses, boats, and trains for the Eid al-Fitr travelers annually, according to Wahyudi.

This year, the province has readied 926 buses, including nearly 300 buses, provided by private companies and universities to transport holidaymakers back to their hometowns.  

The trains offering free rides serve the routes of Surabaya-Kertosono, Surabaya-Kertosono-Blitar, Surabaya-Malang, Surabaya-Malang-Blitar, Sidoarjo-Bojonegoro, Malang-Banyuwangi, and Surabaya-Banyuwangi.

Free rides by boats have been offered to five destinations instead of three like in the previous years. The boat routes are Gresik-Bawean Island, Surabaya-Masalembo, Kangean Island-Kalianget, Ra'as Island-Jangkar Sapudi, and Banyuwangi-Sapeken Island.

Nationally, this year, it is estimated that more than 19.5 million people will return home for reunion with family or friends and to celebrate the festivities after fasting for a month.

Of the 19.5 million Lebaran travelers, some 6.39 million are estimated to use two-wheeled motor vehicles, according to the Indonesian Transportation Society.

Hence, the organization has urged travelers, especially those driving motorcycles, to pay attention to safety during their journey, as motorcyclists are most prone to accidents.

At a press conference titled "Lebaran 2018 Transportation," he explained that the number of travelers of two-wheeled vehicles is estimated at more than 6.39 million. During the Lebaran exodus, two-wheeled vehicle riders always constitute some 70 percent of the accident rate. (*)