# Building a Safe and Comfortable Society

Section 1 Realizing a Universal Society

## Realizing Accessibility through a Universal Design Concept

The “Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc. “ embodies the universal design concept of “freedom and convenience for anywhere and anyone”, making it mandatory to comply with “ Accessibility Standards “ when newly establishing various facilities (passenger facilities, various vehicles, roads, off-street parking facilities, city parks, buildings, etc.), mandatory best effort for existing facilities as well as defining a development target for the end of FY2020 under the “Basic Policy on Accessibility” to promote accessibility.

Also, in accordance with the local accessibility plan created by municipalities, focused and integrated promotion of accessibility is carried out in priority development district; to increase “caring for accessibility”, by deepening the national public’s understanding and seek cooperation for the promotion of accessibility, “accessibility workshops” are hosted in which you learn to assist as well as virtually experience being elderly, disabled, etc.; these efforts serve to accelerate accessibility measures (sustained development in stages).

## (1) Accessibility of Public Transportation

In accordance with the “Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc.”, public transportation administrators are required to comply with “Accessibility Standards for Public Transportation” when carrying out new development of passenger facilities or large-scale improvements as well as introducing new vehicles and for existing facilities. Efforts must be made to comply with these standards and staff must be educated and trained as needed to strive for accessibility as part of the stipulated requirements for mandatory efforts. In addition, assistance measures are available to support the accessibility of passenger ships as well as train stations and other passenger terminals along with the implementation of non-step (low-floor) busses, lift-equipped busses, welfare taxis, and other initiatives.

Figure II-7-1-1 Current Accessibility of Public Transportation

(as of 3/31, 2013)

Passenger Facilities (over 3,000 persons/day using on average)

Total Facilities	Passenger Facilities Compliant with Accessibility Standards for Public Transportation (No Grade Barriers) (Note 1)	Share of Total
Railway stations	3,457	2,829	81.8%
Bus terminals	52	43	82.7%
Passenger ship terminals	16	14	87.5%
Airport passenger terminals	33	28	84.8% (100%) (Note 2)

(Notes) 1 Regarding the “elimination of steps”, it is calculated based on compliance with Article 4 (covering the width of the travel path, ramps, elevators, escalators, etc.) of the “Accessibility Standards for Public Transportation” based on Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc..

2 Installation of elevators, escalators, and slopes that the disabled and others can use (practical relief of grade barriers).

Vehicles

Total Vehicles	Vehicles Compliant with Accessibility Standards for Public Transportation (Note)	Share of Total
Railway carriages	52,669	29,385	55.8%
Low-floor busses	45,495	18,672	41.0%
Lift-equipped busses	13,499	485	3.6%
Welfare taxis	-	13,856	-
Passenger ships	706	173	24.5%
Airplanes	537	479	89.2%

(Note) "Compliance with Accessibility of transport vehicles" is calculated based on each vehicle's compliance with the Accessibility Standards for Public Transportation.

Source) MLIT

(2) Accessibility of Living and Housing Environments

### a. Accessibility of Housing and Architecture

In order for those such as the elderly and disabled to be able to lead a secure, safe, and comfortable housing life within the region, the barrier-free reform is supported by measures such as lowering the financing interest of the Japan Housing Finance Agency’s (Incorporated Administrative Agency) “Flat 35 S Loan” for obtaining housing that fulfills a certain