What Bus to Take to Travel from Semarang to Solo Vice Versa

By: Pratama Yoga Nugroho*

Traveling from Semarang to Solo vice versa by bus has several options. Based on what kind of bus you would like to take, you have two options, namely economy class and PATAS bus. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, the advantages and disadvantages of using each option depend on your perception and, of course, it is different from person to person.

Economy class bus offers relatively cheap ticket. You only have to pay about Rp.12.000, 00 to go from Semarang to Solo. However, the bus is often crowded, hot, and moves slowly as it takes passengers along the way. The bus crew seems that they do not care with whether the bus is already full or not. All they do is getting more and more passengers. Consequently, the bus gets more and more crowded.

Another thing that makes economy class bus uncomfortable to take is that there are many street singers singing alternately along the trip from Semarang to Solo vice versa. I ever counted the number of street singer during my trip from Semarang to Solo and it reached up to 12 singers. What makes us feel uncomfortable is that sometimes those singers often force us to give them money. I even ever noticed a singer woke a sleeping passenger up to ask for money. This definitely makes us feel inconvenient.

In contrast to that, another option, PATAS bus offers comfort and convenience in the trip. Even though the ticket costs more than the economy class bus, we can enjoy the trip and even take a rest there. By paying Rp.20.000, 00 you would find the condition is mostly different from that of economy class bus.

The PATAS bus takes passengers only in few places such as bus stations and certain bus stops. The number of passengers rarely goes over capacity limit so that every one would get a seat and they need not jostle each other in the bus. Its crews also never allow any street singer to enter the bus. Those things literally will make us more comfortable taking this kind of bus.

However, as I said before, the advantages and disadvantages of each option depend on our perception. Street singer may be annoying for some people but they may also be entertaining for some others. Some people sometimes even do not care whether the bus is crowded or not because what they want is just arriving at their destination. Thus, whether an economy class bus is uncomfortable or a PATAS bus is convenient is up to you.

* Pratama Yoga Nugroho: a student of English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro

University, Semarang.