Elevator that you can't get on March 3 at 23:17

Have you ever experienced that even if the elevator doors open at a department store, it is difficult to get on because it is full?

For wheelchair and stroller users, it is a serious problem that they cannot move from their current floor. Now that the crowds are returning to the city, I thought about "elevators that cannot be ridden".
(Fukuoka Broadcasting Station reporter Shuntaro Hayakawa)

I just want to go down from the second floor to the first floor... An appeal that resonated

When the elevator doors open, the people in the front row awkwardly look away.
When my son was born and I started using strollers, I changed from looking away to sighing.

The problem of not being able to take the elevator is often encountered on the middle floor of a commercial facility. I was transferred from Tokyo to Fukuoka as an adult, and I still face this problem.
When I looked into other people, wondering if they were in trouble, I saw a compelling appeal spreading on social media.

"I just want to go down from the second floor to the first floor. There were so many people that I couldn't get on it, so I waited for about 2 minutes. I want to go to the bathroom, but I can't stand it because of my disability, so I'm fighting leaks."

The message was sent by Mako Shibuya, a YouTuber who uses a wheelchair.
Wheelchair users cannot move to other floors without access to the elevator.

I felt that it was a surprisingly serious problem even though it was close to me, so I talked to Mr. Shibuya.

When Mr. Shibuya guided me to the elevator of the commercial facility at Hakata Station, I noticed something.
Elevator doors are marked with priority for people with disabilities and stroller users.

In fact, all elevators in this commercial facility are given priority to these people.
However, Mr. Shibuya, who is in a wheelchair, did not see a single person who could make room.

YouTuber Mako Shibuya
: "It took a long time for the elevator to arrive, and when I came, there were so many people on it that I couldn't get on it. Other people who could walk wondered what it would be like to have the option of stairs and escalators. However, there is a certain story for wheelchair users, and I also felt that it was something like that."

Shibuya's post received a variety of opinions.

"Isn't anyone talking to me?"

"To be honest, I didn't imagine this situation. After all, there are things that you don't notice unless you are told." "If you can use an escalator, I would like you to use it if possible."

As one of the solutions, some people said, "I wish I could ask them to give it to me."

YouTuber Mako Shibuya
: "No, it's hard to say that you should give it to yourself, but when I imagine that everyone took the trouble to get into the elevator, I don't think I can say please give in."

Certainly, it seems quite a hurdle to look away and say "Please yield" to those who continue to ride.

Even if you ask, it will wear out your spirit every time you ask for it.

Parents and children in strollers who can't ride the elevator

When I visited the same commercial facility again on a national holiday, I encountered many people who were having trouble getting on the elevator.
One of the most impressive was the sight of a mother with her three small children she met on the eighth floor.
He stopped by on his way home, and he was carrying a stroller in his left hand and a carry case in his right.

Unfortunately, the time is noon. There is a restaurant area on the upper floor, so even if the elevator doors were open or open, there were so many people that I couldn't get in.

Mother
: "If you are using a stroller, you often can't get on, because I have three children and the escalator is difficult, so it's a little troublesome. Everyone else is waiting for their turn, so it's hard to get in."

Even if an elevator with space for a stroller comes, light people will get in first.

After waiting for more than 10 minutes, I finally got on the elevator, which was the opposite of the direction I wanted to go, and headed up. It seems that he decided to go upstairs once and go downstairs.

Commercial facilities seeking solutions

Many commercial facilities have similar problems and are taking various measures, but it seems that the solution is not straightforward.
Under such circumstances, I heard that a commercial facility in Tenjin, Fukuoka City, operated by Fukuoka's private railway company Nishi Japan Railway, was making quite in-depth efforts, so I decided to visit it.

When you arrive at the facility and look at the elevator first, you will see a large "exclusive" word on the poster above, on the door, and on the side.

Located in the downtown area of Fukuoka, this facility is crowded with many people mainly on weekends and holidays, but there are only three elevators, and congestion has been an issue for many years.
Partly because there were requests for improvements, one of these elevators has been dedicated to disabled and stroller users for the past seven years.

Users welcomed us.

"It's very convenient and helpful" "

I'm from outside the prefecture, but Fukuoka is good."

On the other hand, as I was interviewing them on site, I began to see some issues.
Young people and other people who are clearly not "exclusive" are getting into the elevator one after another.

In fact, one stroller user told me this:

"It's a problem because there are people who are not eligible for the dedicated elevator, and there are many things that are difficult to get on."

Although this facility is not sufficient, it will continue its current efforts that have a certain effect, and will aim for further improvement.

Mr. Ryosuke Mukae of Nishitetsu Solaria Plaza:
"In reality, it is difficult to always place people in each floor and elevator to guide them.

This dedicated elevator actually existed at that commercial facility at Hakata Station, which became a hot topic on SNS, until November last year.

However, since the establishment of the dedicated system, there have been opinions such as "It is strange that there are so many people accompanying strollers" to the facility, and people who do not recognize people with disabilities from the outside, such as "Should I not ride unless I show my disability certificate?"

JR Hakata City Mitsunori Tanaka, General Manager
of the Customer Service Office: "It is true that there were various opinions, and we decided to stop using all elevators and prioritize all elevators because we thought about what would be the best way for all customers."

However, contrary to expectations, an environment was not created in which those who were needed were prioritized.

Due to the many calls for the revival of dedicated elevators, this facility installed a dedicated elevator again in March.

JR Hakata City Mitsunori Tanaka, General Manager
of the Customer Consultation Office: "For wheelchairs and strollers, the elevator is limited to moving around the floor, so we hope that those who can use the escalator will use it as much as possible so that many people can move smoothly."

Will it spread even in elevators?

In addition to efforts on the part of the facility, it seems that improvement of our manners will be required to solve the problem.

I think that the awareness of "giving up" seats and space has spread to some extent on trains and buses, but I feel that the idea of "giving up" to elevators itself is still not yet available to many people.

First of all, society should recognize the current situation of people who are in trouble with elevators.

On top of that, the key seems to be how to create momentum that naturally makes people want to "yield."

After working as a reporter
for the Fukuoka Broadcasting Bureau Shuntaro
Hayakawa of the Economic Department, he covered topics of concern that are familiar to him as a current member
of the army.