Vehicles

1. Becak

   Becak (cycle rickshaw)

   Usage

   The pedal rickshaw with the passenger seat in front — a Yogyakarta institution on Malioboro. Always agree the fare first

2. Bentor

   Motorised becak

   Usage

   Short for "becak motor" — an engine-powered becak, quicker for hills and longer trips

3. Angkot

   Angkot (shared minivan)

   Usage

   Short for "angkutan kota". A shared minivan on a fixed route — call "Kiri!" (left) where you want to get off

4. Ojek

   Ojek (motorcycle taxi)

   Usage

   You ride pillion. It beats the traffic, and the driver supplies the helmet

5. Gojek

   Gojek (ride-hailing app)

   Usage

   The Indonesian ride-hailing app — GoRide for bikes, GoCar for cars. The fare is fixed in advance, which helps if you cannot negotiate

6. Andong

   Andong (horse carriage)

   Usage

   The four-wheeled carriage of Yogyakarta and Solo; the smaller two-wheeled one is a "dokar". Mostly used for sightseeing around the palaces

7. Bajaj

   Bajaj (auto rickshaw)

   Usage

   Jakarta's three-wheeler, named after the Indian maker Bajaj Auto. For short hops — agree the fare before you get in

8. Montor

   Car

   Usage

   The Javanese form, not Indonesian "mobil" — borrowed from Dutch "motor"

9. Sepeda motor

   Motorcycle

   Usage

   The bike itself — the most common way to get around Java. Renting needs an international licence and a helmet

10. Pit

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Javanese, from Dutch "fiets" — not Indonesian "sepeda". A "pit onthel" is the old-fashioned roadster

11. Bis

    Bus

    Usage

    Covers city and intercity buses alike. The overnight coach is a "bis malam"

12. Trans Jogja

    Trans Jogja city bus

    Usage

    Yogyakarta's bus network with its own raised shelters. Jakarta's equivalent is TransJakarta

13. Sepur

    Train

    Usage

    The Javanese form, from Dutch "spoor" — not Indonesian "kereta api". Java has a well-developed rail network

14. KRL Commuter Line

    KRL commuter train

    Usage

    Greater Jakarta's commuter rail, run on a stored-value card. It reaches Bogor too

15. MRT Jakarta

    Jakarta MRT

    Usage

    Jakarta's metro, opened in 2019, running north-south through the centre — the way to skip the traffic

16. Taksi

    Taxi

    Usage

    Normally metered. Ask with "Nganggo argo, nggih" — please use the meter

17. Montor mabur

    Airplane

    Usage

    Literally "flying car" — the native Javanese expression, not Indonesian "pesawat"

18. Prau

    Boat

    Usage

    The Javanese form, not Indonesian "perahu" — a small fishing or ferry boat

19. Kapal feri

    Ferry

    Usage

    The car ferries linking Java with Bali (via Gilimanuk) and Sumatra (via Merak)

20. Ambulan

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The emergency number is 112. Show it with "Kula mbetahaken ambulan" — I need an ambulance

21. Truk

    Truck

    Usage

    A cargo truck. In Java the tailboards are famously painted with proverbs and jokes

22. Odong-odong

    Odong-odong (kiddie train)

    Usage

    A gaudy mini-train that tours neighbourhoods playing music, for children to ride

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