Jakarta. Jakartans are struggling to find ride-hailing drivers, commonly known as “ojol,” during the 2026 Ramadan period, particularly during peak evening hours.

“Ojol,” short for ojek online, refers to motorcycle drivers who operate through ride-hailing platforms. In recent days, users have reported difficulty securing drivers through apps such as Grab and Gojek, especially after office hours and shortly before iftar, when many Muslims break their fast.

Netizens have shared posts describing how difficult it is to find a ride-hailing driver in the afternoon. One viral post from the Instagram account @jktdiemduluplease featured complaints from Jakarta residents who said their ride or food delivery orders were repeatedly ignored or left unaccepted by drivers.

“It turns out that this ‘ojol crisis’ is being experienced by many Jakarta residents at the same time. Some Muslim users even have to delay breaking their fast because they cannot find a driver to deliver their food,” the account wrote.

The post quickly sparked widespread reactions online. One user said drivers frequently ignored her ride requests, leaving her with limited transportation options.

“The drivers just don’t accept the order. The app shows no movement, and even direct messages aren’t answered. Other options like buses or trains are also extremely crowded,” the user wrote.

Some commuters said they had begun turning to alternative transportation options, including conventional taxis or other ride-hailing platforms such as Maxim, which they claim are easier to find during busy periods.

Responding to the issue, Tyas Widyastuti, director of mobility, food, and logistics at Grab Indonesia, acknowledged that waiting times for rides and deliveries have increased in the Greater Jakarta area in recent days.

“This is happening because demand for mobility and delivery services, including GrabExpress and GrabFood, has increased significantly over the past few days,” she said in a statement.

Drivers say several factors contribute to the situation. Suprianto, a 46-year-old driver for Gojek, said order volumes often surge during rush hours, after rain or during busy Ramadan evenings.

“Orders usually increase during rush hours or after rain. Sometimes the pickup point is quite far from the driver’s location, and when we are already on the way, the order can suddenly be canceled,” he said.

He added that such situations are common and can make it difficult for drivers to manage orders efficiently.

“I hope the regulations can be clarified or the system improved, especially when pickup points are too far, while passengers want to be picked up quickly because they are in a hurry,” he said.

Suprianto said improvements to the system could help stabilize order distribution and ease the current surge in demand during the Ramadan season.

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