“When I was at school, no bus would stop for me. Moving around is a hassle because the infrastructure is not friendly for differently abled people,” the 40-year-old, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told CNA.
As a result, many do not go to school by the time they become too heavy to be carried around by their parents or siblings, hindering their chance of a formal employment. Triyono, 40, founded Difa Bike, a motorcycle taxi service catering to people with disabilities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2014. The other one has a sidecar with seats and wide doors designed to be easily accessible by people in crutches and the blind.
“The most rewarding part is I get to meet new friends. I get to travel anywhere I please without burdening others. I get to visit tourist attractions in Yogyakarta that I could only imagine going before,” Hartanto told CNA. “Ordinary people use Difa Bike because we offer a three-wheeler, which is safer, more comfortable and roomier than a two-wheeled motorcycle at a price that is much lower than a four-wheeled taxi,” he said.
“Now, they are more confident because they can now support themselves and their families and feel that they are a productive member of society,” added Triyono. There were also those making ends meet as roadside food vendors in between their regular transportation jobs to survive.“Before the pandemic, a driver could transport three to five customers and earn more than 100,000 rupiah a day. Now, they earn around 70,000 rupiah a day,” Triyono said.“It’s like we are back to square one. We have to rebuild our customers, promote ourselves on social media. But we are slowly getting back on our feet again.
Difa Bike founder, Triyono said the pandemic has hit the company hard. Despite this, the motorcycle taxi operator is planning on expanding to different cities across the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali.
Good initiative..