The return flow of Idul Fitri (Lebaran) is often marked by a surge in vehicle traffic, and limited time can hinder and even disrupt the comfort of travel, especially for students. Additionally, the availability of good transportation tickets and the spike in prices can lead to a rush for tickets a week or even a month before Idul Fitri.

These issues can become detrimental problems, particularly for the general public, and especially for students. Therefore, most people will opt to purchase tickets earlier to secure affordable prices, ensure ticket availability, and save time in booking later on.

For students who are less fortunate in securing public transport tickets, they might choose alternative travel options, such as using private vehicles or carpooling with friends heading in the same direction.

Opting for private vehicles certainly offers flexibility, but there are factors to anticipate, such as fatigue and exposure to night air, which may impact physical health. Poor health conditions can disrupt academic activities in the future.

According to the Director General of Railways, Mr. M. Risal Wasal, registration for the MOTIS (Free Motorcycle Transport) program began on March 8 and ended on April 6, 2025. He explained that the MOTIS program is conducted annually as a form of government support, enabling people to reach their hometowns more affordably, safely, and comfortably.

Using public transportation can shorten travel times while providing greater comfort. One of the government-backed services for the public is MOTIS, a free motorcycle transport service. In 2025, the government allocated a quota for 7,424 motorcycle units and 16,960 passengers.

One employee from Dian Nusantara University who utilized the MOTIS service, Andhika Iswardana, expressed mixed impressions about this year’s MOTIS program. He noted that the service posts provided in the MOTIS program have shown considerable improvement.

"Last year at Jakarta Gudang Station, there were 3 MOTIS service posts catering to each route—northern, southern, and central. However, this year’s MOTIS only had one service post. In terms of human resources, honestly, it’s fewer compared to last year. Moreover, only 420 registration slots were available, and those were accessible solely through online registration. Offline registrants who had already arrived were directed to return home and register online," said Andhika Iswardana.

He continued to mention that the MOTIS website services still had many shortcomings, such as issues in uploading photos, schedule selection, and coordination regarding the availability of online tickets. These areas need improvement to ensure smoother bookings and prevent negative sentiment from travelers.

On a positive note, unlike the previous year when the Jakarta-Purwokerto route incurred a fee of 20,000 rupiah, this year’s MOTIS implementation imposed no charges on travelers for either the outbound or return flow.

Andhika hoped that in the upcoming years, the MOTIS system would be evaluated, particularly in terms of improving the speed of ticket availability updates. In addition, the transparency of information and the timelines shared through MOTIS social media or by the Ministry of Transportation should also improve compared to this year.

Amidst all the hustle and the long journey undertaken, the return flow of Idul Fitri and the mudik (homecoming) tradition can serve as moments of personal reflection for everyone. After spending time with family, people return with new enthusiasm to face their upcoming academic activities.

Although the atmosphere of Idul Fitri and family warmth brings tranquility, as agents of change, students must also maintain their prime condition to embark on the new semester with full vigor. The return flow of Idul Fitri is not merely a physical journey back to their cities of residence but also marks the beginning of a life journey toward a brighter future.