Ade Mardiyati – Finishing work may please most Jakartans, but for women burning the midnight oil it's just the start of an uncomfortable and often dangerous journey.

Whether it's on public transportation or in private cars, lone women commuting in Jakarta must always be alert to potential dangers. That fact was brought tragically home by several recent cases in which women were raped on angkot, or public minivans.

For women on the go in the city, precautions start even before they step into an angkot. Checking the number of female passengers or wearing a thick jacket to cover their body are just two of the measures they use to avoid becoming a victim.

The Jakarta Globe spoke to four women, each in different professions, who often travel home at night.

Hera, 30, part-time Mandarin teacher

"I work seven days a week, giving language lessons in three different areas of Jakarta: Salemba [Central], Kelapa Gading [North] and Cipete [South]. And I live in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta. My work hours shift around every week, so some days classes will finish at 9 or 9:15 at night. Two years ago I gave lessons that finished around 10 at night but I don't want to do that anymore.

I usually take public transportation home, either an angkot or an ojek [motorcycle taxi]. At that time of the night there are still quite a lot of people out on the streets and taking angkots, so I feel it's relatively safe to take public transportation.

But I also admit that I don't feel as safe as I used to. I've heard about so many rape cases that have taken place in public places, like in angkots, which frightens me as a woman. Before I got married, my boyfriend would pick me up from work whenever he could. He still did after we got married but after he passed away two months later, I have had to be independent no matter what.

Before I get into an angkot, I check how many passengers are inside, and whether there are women among them. But angkots in Kelapa Gading are always empty so I have to take the risk and hope more women will get in on the way home.

Whenever I take angkots at night I always put on a thick jacket. The jacket helps me hide my body shape, I don't want to get looks from people just for wearing, say, a miniskirt."

Annisa (not her real name), 26, journalist

"I have worked for a newspaper for a year and a half. I work at the arts and culture desk, and since most arts and cultural events take place at night, I usually finish late. Ten p.m. is the earliest I can get home by, and sometimes I won't get there until midnight or close to one.

The journey home can take one to one and a half hours. I always take public transportation because it's still available. I hardly take taxis because it's costly. The company where I work doesn't give us any money for taxis, although I do believe they should be responsible for our safety as we travel late at night in the line of duty.

Although I can say that I am now used to traveling home at night, the thought of being a victim of a crime haunts me. I consider myself a tough woman, partly because I'm a journalist, but at the same time I still need to be very careful. The increasing number of crimes, including rapes, is a threat to women in Jakarta.

I still remember one night, at around 10, I had to take a crossing bridge and I was the only one there. I've never been so scared. The thought of becoming a victim of a crime really chills me to the bone. I had no choice but to do it, and while I was walking across the bridge, I asked myself, 'Why do I take these risks?' Then I thought about changing jobs, but I decided to stay because every job comes with its own risks.

I think it's important that companies provide employees with drivers or at least taxi money to ensure they return home safe after late-night shifts. I also believe that the more comfortable employees feel, the better they will perform."

Nurhayati, 25, shop attendant at a South Jakarta mall

"Since most malls in Jakarta shut down at 10 p.m. I get to leave at around 10:30 p.m. after our closing briefing.

I prefer working morning shifts, of course, because I feel much safer traveling home in the daylight. I live south of Jakarta, in Depok, so the journey home takes quite a while. I have to take two buses to get home. I'm trying to save money so I don't want to rent a room in Central Jakarta.

When 'midnight sales' are on at the mall, I'll finish work at 1 a.m. There are hardly any angkots around at that hour and I don't have the guts to take a taxi, so my boyfriend picks me up. He likes to make sure I arrive home safely.

Usually, though, at around 10 p.m. there are still quite a few people taking public transportation. The news about the many rape cases in angkots totally scared me. It can happen to anyone, including me. Before I get in an angkot, I take a quick look and count how many female passengers are in the bus. If there's only one or none, I'd rather wait for the next one.

I really feel that it is no longer safe to travel around Jakarta at night alone, especially for women. It seems to me that criminals have it easier when it's dark."

Novita R. Simanjuntak, 31, camerawoman at a TV station

"My work hours depend on the shift I'm on, morning or night. The latest I finish work is usually two in the morning, but it depends on the TV program I'm rostered on for that day.

I prefer working night shifts. I don't have to worry about traveling home late because our company provides us with a driver and a car if we finish late, and even picks us up at dawn if we work a morning shift.

I feel fortunate to work for a company that looks after our safety. It's important that companies with employees rostered on late shifts provide them with safe transportation or taxi vouchers at least. I can't imagine what it would be like to travel home at that hour.

And with crime increasing, especially rapes, I would feel haunted if I had to travel at night by myself."