To tackle Bali’s chronic traffic congestion, the provincial government is rolling out a plan to stagger school start times and office hours in an effort to ease rush hour pressure.
Governor Wayan Koster announced the measure in Denpasar on Friday, 11 April, as part of a broader initiative involving a new task force for infrastructure acceleration and traffic management. The task force has been directed to map out strategies to reduce congestion across the island.
Different start times for students and civil servants
“For the short term, the heads of transportation agencies from the province and all regencies, along with the Bali Police traffic division, will prepare a vehicle flow scenario and implement traffic engineering,” Koster said, as quoted by state news agency Antara. “We will adjust office and school start times so that the two do not overlap.”
Under the plan, schools will begin earlier in the day, while office hours—particularly for provincial government employees—will run from 08.00 to 16.00 WITA. Specific timings for schools are still being developed.
Traffic and waste: Bali’s top concerns
Governor Koster described congestion as one of Bali’s most pressing issues, on par with waste management, and said both required both immediate and long-term responses. He called for rapid action by the transportation department and the newly formed task force to identify congested zones and test practical solutions, including the separation of student and worker travel times.
“This has been done in Jakarta. In Bali, I think we can move even faster,” Koster said. “This is a short-term priority so our tourists can enjoy a more comfortable experience.”
Tourism image at stake
Koster emphasized that improving traffic conditions isn’t only for the benefit of residents, but also for Bali’s global image. He cited the island’s growing visitor numbers, with 6,4 million foreign tourists arriving in 2024—higher than the pre-pandemic figure of 6,2 million in 2019.
“Even when things weren’t going well, people still came. Imagine how many more would visit if we managed our waste and congestion better,” he said. “If we clean up those who break the rules, Bali can truly live up to its name as the Island of the Gods—a paradise.”
