# Chapter 4: Setting the Stage for Independent and Vibrant Life

## (1) Realization of a society embracing universal design

## Realization of a barrier-free society based on the concept of universal design

Efforts are being made to realize a society that embraces universal design, by improving both structural and non-structural aspects, including barrier-free public transport, and residential, living and walking spaces, as the “Law for Promoting Barrier-free Transport and Facilities for the Elderly and the Disabled (New Barrier-free Law)” entered into force as of December 2006.

Percentage of Barrier-free Facilities in Public Transportation

As at March 31, 2007

Transportation system facilities (with a daily average total of 5,000 or more users)

Total	Facilities in conformity with transport accessibility improvement standard (Note 1)	Proportion of total
Railway/tramway stations	2,801	1,758	62.8%
Bus terminals	42	32	76.2%
Passenger ship terminals	9	8	88.9%
Airport terminals	23	15	65.2% (100%)

Notes: 1) Total of those in conformity with the transport accessibility improvement standard (in relation to the width of passageways, slopes, escalators, elevators, etc.) as stipulated in Article 4 of the Transport Accessibility Improvement Law.

2) All the airport terminals are equipped with elevators, escalators and slopes accessible to the disabled as at the end of March 2001.

○Vehicles, etc.

Total of vehicles, etc.	Vehicles, etc. in conformity with transport accessibility improvement standard (Note 1)	Proportion of total
Railway/tramway rolling stocks	51,618	10,309	20.0%
Buses	58,735
Low-deck buses	19,434	33.1%
Non-step buses	10,389	17.7%
Welfare taxis	9,651	-
Passenger vessels	939	108	11.5%
Airplanes	496	270	54.4%

Note: 1) Total of those in conformity with the transport accessibility improvement standard as stipulated in Article 4 of the Transport Accessibility Improvement Law.

Number of Construction Plans of Specified Buildings accredited under the New Barrier-free Law

FY:	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
FY total	11	120	229	320	382	366	332	232	280	367	386	345	331
Cumulative total	11	131	360	680	1,062	1,428	1,760	1,992	2,272	2,639	3,025	3,378	3,709

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan

## ○Development of parenting environment in the society with declining birth rate

Regarding women who wish to join the workforce while they are mothers, the MLIT is making efforts to provide support for obtaining residences befitting newly married couples and parents with children, as well as support for the promotion of telework and child support transportation services. With the aim of developing an environment that poses no obstacles to children’s growth, the MLIT is promoting the development of safety measures concerning playground equipment in city parks.

## Responding to the aging society

In addition to the efforts to develop a safely habitable environment for senior citizens, the MLIT is striving to provide transportation services in combination with other welfare measures to address the aged society, as evidenced by the entry into force of the “Revised Road Transportation Law” in October 2006. The implementation of this law provided for the creation of a registration system enabling NPOs and other entities to provide revenue-generating welfare transportation and revenue-generating transportation in depopulating areas.