Labi-Labi is the name for a typical mode of public transport that we can only see in Aceh, especially in the city of Banda Aceh. If any of the friends who have been to Banda Aceh must have seen or may have tried to use this unique public transport.
Labi-Labi is a public vehicle that has one door on the back. The door becomes the entry and exit of passengers. This vehicle is actually a car type pick-up that has been modified, the rear added wall and roof like a cabin equipped with a long seat mounted along the wall on both sides with a sitting position facing each other. Labi-Labi was once the most popular public transport in Banda Aceh. Public transportation is most favored by all people of Banda Aceh and surrounding cities, ranging from students, college students, office workers and ordinary people. In its journey, Labi-Labi with all its uniqueness has become an inseparable element in every aspect of everyday life of Banda Aceh people, because the Labi-Labi at that time was the main public transportation that became the choice of the people of Banda Aceh. If one day at that moment all the Labi-Labi in Banda Aceh stop operating, can be imagined its effect for the smoothness activity and daily mobility citizens of Banda Aceh which is very dependent with public transportation on this one.
About its history, there is no definite record since when the Labi-Labi existed and started operating in Banda Aceh. But there is little information obtained from some urban citizens who are already classified as elderly. According to their memories, the Labi-Labi have existed and started to be seen in the city of Banda Aceh since the 80s era. Still, according to their story, the Labi-Labi at that time still not so much. So do not be surprised if every presence is always filled by passengers. Similar to public transport in some other cities, the Labi-Labi also has a route code and pre-determined price tariff. Labi-Labi usually starts operating from 06.30 am to 20.00 pm, time Indonesia western region. As a public transport in Banda Aceh.
Labi-Labi reached the peak of its popularity in the era of the 90s to the early 2000s. In the late 90s, I started college in Banda Aceh. Still in my mind, at that time there were so many Labi-Labi operate in Banda Aceh. At that time, I can choose any Labi-Labi I want to ride in accordance with my wishes. I usually choose Labi-Labi that has not been filled with passengers so that they can sit comfortably and not jostle each other. According to information from an entrepreneur who operates several units of Labi-Labi as his business field. In the early 2000s before the Tsunami, more than 1000 units of the Labi-Labi fleet registered in Banda Aceh City Transportation Department with 17 number of routes served. But at this time he said only 340 units of Labi-Labi were registered, with the number of routes that have been reduced to about 7-8 routes served.
After the Tsunami disaster occurred many owners of Labi-Labi who lost his fleets. Changes in social conditions of Banda Aceh people after the Tsunami also affected the fall of Labi-Labi popularity. A lot of funding from the international community for the Aceh Recovery project post Tsunami has had a major impact on the economic capacity of the Aceh people at that time. The velocity of money in Atjeh was so intense, the recovery project opens up a lot of jobs with big salaries for Aceh people. This has an effect on the increased purchasing power of the Aceh society. Community lifestyle in Banda Aceh began to change, especially in the field of transportation. Many people are already able to buy their own vehicles. In an instant time, the city of Banda Aceh is filled with private vehicles. Peoples prefer to use private vehicles rather than public transport. This situation makes the Labi-Labi began to be abandoned by the citizens of Banda Aceh. If it had been before the Tsunami, the Labi-Labi is a favorite for the passengers of public transport, now only as the ultimate choice of transportation for people who do not have private vehicles. This indicates that the Labi-Labi who once became a favorite public transportation in Banda Aceh has begun to be abandoned.
It is also possible if someday the Labi-Labi can no longer be found on the streets of Banda Aceh and will only stay memories. It is very unfortunate if the condition is true happened because the Labi-Labi in the history the city of Banda Aceh not only so just a means of transportation for the citizens of the city and surrounding areas, but more than that. Labi-Labi has become a separate identity for the city of Banda Aceh. We know Jeepney as a unique public transportation that characterizes the city of Manila, in the Philippines. We also know the Gondola boat as an inseparable public transportation from the city of Venice. If we hear the word Gondola, our imagination will surely be directed to the romanticism of river life in a city called Venice. So, therefore, it would not be an exaggeration if some people also consider these Labi-Labi. Labi-Labi as one of the characteristics of the city of Banda Aceh is also no less iconic with the vehicles mentioned above. When we hear the word Labi-Labi, more or less, our imagination will also be directed to cultural diversity, the urban exoticism and the simplicity the people of Banda Aceh which is very religious. It will evoke a romanticism for people who have visited and lived in Banda Aceh. But I do not know, however, his fate will be, one thing is for sure, the Labi-Labi will still be a legendary public transport which is always in the minds the people of Banda Aceh and people who have been to Banda Aceh.
