Transit Access in Japan Finally on the Fast Track

By Marc Krizack  (krizack@sfsu.edu)
 

Following the passage of Japan's new transit access law,  international transit authorities are gearing up to share their expertise in accessible transit with their Japanese colleagues.

On May 10, the Japanese parliament passed the Barrier-Free Transportation Law.  The law requires that all new transit vehicles, stations, and roads be accessible to people with disabilities and the the elderly. All new stations and other facilities must include elevators and escalators, where necessary, and tactile guideways for those with visual impairments. The law provides for civil penalties if transit operators are found to be out of compliance. It will go into effect in November 2000.

The Barrier-Free Transportation Law is not the first transit access law in Japan. Eight years ago, the City of Osaka passed municipal legislation that required all public buildings to be accessible to people with disabilties by the year 2002. This includes all 119 stations in the Osaka metro system, not merely new structures. The new national law applies only to new structures and equipment. It also has no requirement for the participation of people with disabilities in its implementation.

One organization which is sharing its expertise in the area of accessible mass transit with the Japanese is the International Centre for Accessible Transportation (ICAT) of Montreal, Canada. ICAT director Ling Suen advised Japanese government and transit officials last November, and Dr. Kit Mitchell will be leading seminars on accessible transit in Tokyo and other cities in October. Information on ICAT can be found at http://www.icat-icat.org.

Disabled People's International-Japan has been advocating strongly for this new national law. The next DPI World Assembly and Conference will take place in Japan in 2002 and disability activists have been encouraging the Japanese government to join the ranks of the more progressive countries in accessible transit issues.