advancing the development of green-rich city parks and by utilizing the Special Green Space Conservation District Program, which aims to protect planting of greenery by restricting the construction of buildings or purchasing land, and the Citizen Green Space Program, which makes green spaces available to citizens under contract. We are also promoting the greening of privately owned land by utilizing systems like the greening area system and the greening rate ordinance systems in district plans, as well as utilizing the productive green zone system to protect farmlands with multiple functions.

Other measures deployed nationwide to drive promotion and enlightenment include the sponsorship of “Protect Green” gatherings and national urban greening fairs, various systems to award people who are instrumental in greening and the rating and certification of corporate activities to pursue greening and preserve green spaces.

## 2 Advancing Road Development that Prioritizes Pedestrians and Bicycle Riders

### a. Making secure pedestrian spaces

To achieve social safety and security, it is important to create people-oriented walking spaces that assure pedestrian safety. In particular, based on the results of emergency joint inspections carried out in FY2012, we are making progress in improving and developing roads used by children walking to school. Schools, the Board of Education, road administrators, police, and another stakeholders have been working together to implement traffic safety measures such as sidewalk development, painted curbs, guardrails, by carrying out joint periodic inspections based on the “School Route Traffic Safety Program”.

### b. Creating a safe and comfortable cycling environment

Bicycles play an important role as a very accessible mode of transportation, but they also tend to account for increasingly important proportion of total traffic accident rate. This shows that there is a need to develop bicycles-friendly environment focusing especially safety and comfort. Therefore, both the MLIT and National Police Agency developed new Guideline for Creating a Safe, Spacious and Convenient Bicycle Network in November, 2012. This involves reallocating road space and enforcing strict adherence to traffic rules. Through publicizing this guideline, the MLIT and National Police Agency promotes an environment for safe and comfortable usage of the bicycle.

Since the end of FY2012, 53 Japanese municipalities have been becoming involved developing Network plan based on this Guideline.

### c. Shaping quality walking spaces

The MLIT supports the development of pedestrian roads and rest facilities that aim to create high quality pedestrian environments that ties together rich scenery and abundant nature with historical sites, to develop regions that are attractive and promote health through walking.

### d. Promoting road signs that are easy to understand

The MLIT is working on the installing road signs that are easy to understand to help guide pedestrians who are in an unfamiliar place to their destinations.

### e. Building a flexible system of road administration

To implement a flexible of road administration system that provides a diversity of road functions tailored to the needs of the local residents along the way—including safe walking spaces and places of regional buoyancy and human exchanges, and making motor-vehicle traffic smoother and safer—the MLIT is implementing: (a) Preferential measures, such as the construction of new sidewalks on national or prefectural highways by municipalities other than designated cities; (b) A system of suggesting municipalities to refurbish pedestrian safety facilities; (c) Preferential measures for road occupancy such as boulevard trees planted by NPOs or others, street lamps, etc.; and (d) Preferential measures for the administration of off-street convenient facilities to keep roads and roadside facilities under integrated management.