## [Promoting policy based on the concept of universal design]

☐ Execution of policy in everyday life

(Realizing public transportation that anyone can use safely and smoothly)

In order to realize public transportation that anyone can use smoothly, including the elderly, the disabled, pregnant mothers, children, people with children, and people from other countries, we must intensively promote the increase of convenience, the smoothing of transfers, and the sophisticated provision of information at stations and other transportation nodes.

Also, along with promoting further implementation of non-step buses and the like in businesses, in order to carefully address the needs of safety in getting around for the elderly, the disabled, babies, and other people who normally have difficulty using public transportations, there are calls for the enriched provision of door-to-door transport services like welfare taxis, special transport services (STS), and so on.

## (Creating communities where everyone can be safe and live comfortably)

Toward the realization of communities that can be lived in just by walking, without depending too much on motor vehicles, it is important to promote the creation of compact towns with residences in the city center and necessary facilities for living located within walking distance.

Coordinating with welfare departments and other departments and agencies as well, we must support a broad range of improvements to residential spaces as well as improvements on inadequate facilities in the city center that are needed for the elderly, the disabled, families with children, and so on, creating living functions like residency, welfare, and vibrancy.

## (Enrichment of information provision using IT)

In order to create an environment where all people can live and get around safely and securely, we must go forward with efforts toward enriched information provision through the use of ubiquitous network technologies, including research and development toward the practical use of free mobility system that provide information on routes and means of transit.

## (Promotion of universal and comprehensive barrier-free measures)

In order so that all people can live safely and securely and participate in society, we must promote the development of a seamless barrier-free environment from people's own homes to public transportation and the city center, across both physical and informational resources. There are also calls for the promotion of “barrier-free minds.” This would mean that every citizen recognize the difficulties of the elderly, the disabled, and so forth as their own problem and actively work together for universal participation in society.

## ○ Implementation of measures in consideration of those in need of support in times of disaster

In order so that the elderly, the disabled, foreigners, and others needing support in times of disaster can evacuate quickly and appropriately, it is important to review and redevelop the early provision of evacuation information, evacuation guidance systems, and so on. Also, since the very act of evacuating can often be difficult for those in need of support during disasters, the improvement of disaster prevention fundamentals like facility environs for those in need of support in times of disaster must be prioritized.