Indonesia's disabled motorbike taxi service

Published on 27 Sep 2016 11:10:18 AM

Yuli Siswanto used to find it difficult to get around, as most of Yogyakarta's transport infrastructure doesn't cater to the disabled.
Now, he simply uses an app to call for a Difa-jek -- a combination of the words for "disabled" and "motorbike taxis" in Bahasa Indonesia.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) DISABLED MOTORBIKE TAXI USER, YULI SISWANTO SAYING:
"I choose the disabled motorbike taxi service because it makes me feel comfortable. The driver is disabled, and I am disabled too. We can trust each other."
Founded by a disabled man, the company aims to empower people like him and create job opportunities for the community.
Aris Wahyudi lost his left foot and his right hand years ago.
He used to be a snakefruit (salak) seller and earned less than $4 a day before he joined Difa-ojek a year ago.
He now takes home a comfortable $7 a day.
(SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) MOTORBIKE TAXI DRIVER, ARIS WAHYUDI SAYING:
"The parents of my fiancee at that time kept asking me 'where do you work? How much do you earn?'. But after I joined the company, they finally trusted me, and I got married in May.
The service is not just limited to the disabled - the company says it's also suitable for tourists looking for a relaxing way to get around the city.