Enforcement of the revised Barrier Free Law Issues in the development of local stations and bus terminals

The revised Barrier Free Law came into effect on the 1st of this month.

The national government has decided to focus on the maintenance of elevators and slopes at local railway stations and bus terminals where measures have been delayed so that the elderly and people with disabilities can move smoothly.

The Barrier-Free Law was amended to realize a symbiotic society as a legacy of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and to strengthen soft measures in addition to hard measures, and came into effect on the 1st of this month.

On the hardware side, new facilities with an average daily number of passengers of 2000 or more and less than 3000, such as local railway stations and bus terminals, which are behind in response to large-scale facilities in urban areas. After consulting with the local government, we will proceed with the maintenance of elevators and slopes.

In addition, when constructing a new school building at a public elementary and junior high school, it was mandatory for the first time to install a toilet and elevator for wheelchair users.

On the software side, in addition to obliging transportation companies to comply with standards such as proper operation of slope boards and ensuring the brightness of lighting, it is said that it will provide "barrier-free mind" education in cooperation with schools.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology have set numerical targets for 2025 and will proceed with their response.

Challenges for local railway development

Barrier-free access has been promoted at railway stations and bus terminals nationwide, mainly in urban areas, but delays in response are conspicuous in rural areas, and it is a big issue whether maintenance can be promoted while there are many routes in the red. It has become.

For the past 10 years, the country has focused on improving elevators and slopes at facilities such as railways, buses, and ships that are used by an average of more than 3,000 people a day, and as of March last year, there were 3,580 railway stations nationwide. In 92% of them, the steps that hinder movement have been eliminated.

On the other hand, only 23% of the 5885 stations with an average daily passenger number of less than 3,000 have eliminated the steps.

On the Enshu Railway, a private railway that runs in Hamamatsu City in western Shizuoka Prefecture, the steps have not been eliminated at 9 of the 18 stations.

With the revision of the Barrier-Free Law, Enshu Railway has decided to install an elevator this year at Yahata Station, which has an average of 2,100 passengers a day.

As a result of repeated discussions with the city in response to the request of the user, it was decided to maintain it, so two-thirds of the 400 million yen of the cost will be subsidized by the government and the city.

On the other hand, it does not have standing prospect of barrier-free with a reason, such as that required large sums of money in addition to the eight station.

Of these, at Daiichidori Station, which is located in the downtown area and is used by an average of 3,100 people a day, the river runs underground and the cables of the electric power company are buried, so discussions with related organizations are held. It means that it is having a difficult time.

Koji Moroi, General Manager of the Enshu Railway Transportation Division, said, "The number of passengers in local public transportation has decreased more than in urban areas due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and management is becoming more difficult. The current situation is that it is difficult, and we need the cooperation of the government. In today's aging society, the need for barrier-free is increasing, so we would like to prioritize our efforts. "

Users who want to be barrier-free

A man in his thirties in Hamamatsu City, who uses the Enshu Railway's Hachiman Station for commuting to work, said, "Elevators are installed especially during busy hours in the morning and evening. It will be helpful if it is done. "

In addition, a woman in her thirties who came to travel with her family from Fukui prefecture and was using Daiichidori Station without an elevator said, "I used to have no problem without an elevator, but now that I have children, I am now. I always use it when there is one. I want you to promote barrier-free even in rural areas. "

Overwhelming difference between urban and rural areas

Satoshi Sato, the secretary-general of the DPI Japan Conference, an organization made up of people with disabilities, who also uses wheelchairs, said, "Barrier-free development is delayed in rural areas, and there is an overwhelming difference from urban areas. It is necessary to make a maintenance plan for each railway company and make steady efforts to proceed with the maintenance. "

In addition, with this revision of the law, barrier-free access will be promoted at stations with an average daily number of passengers of 2000 or more. It is a requirement to position it as an indispensable facility for people's lives.

Mr. Sato says, "I am worried that the number of target stations will not increase so much. It is necessary for the local government not only to make a plan but also to proceed with the renovation according to it."

Furthermore, as an issue including urban areas, "If there is a step or gap between the platform and the vehicle, the wheelchair user cannot get on and off by himself, and the station staff will have to bring the slope. It can be used freely by one person, so I would like you to proceed. "

Dai Tamesue "Awareness of helping each other and hardware"

Dai Tamesue, a former track and field athlete who has participated in the three Olympic Games and continues to support parasports, has been amended by the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as a result of the lack of barrier-free activities in rural areas. Regarding that, "It is difficult for wheelchair athletes to move in rural training camps. There are places where it is difficult to make various improvements, so there may be many people who do not go out. We are facing an aging society. It should be understood that it is the legacy and mission of Tokyo Olympics to create a model that is easy for everyone, even people with disabilities, to live. "

On top of that, he said that it is important not only to maintain the hardware but also to change consciousness. "Even if the hardware improves and it becomes easier to go out, if there are many people in wheelchairs who look sick, the city will not change. People will help each other. It is important to have each person's consciousness and to adjust the hardware accordingly. Changing consciousness can be changed overnight, so I think it is important to change. I was talking.