ABSTRACT
With an aging population and the progression of global warming, there is increasing advocacy for shifting from conventional mobility that relies on private cars to a focus on public transport such as railways and buses. However, in Japan, especially in non-metropolitan areas, public transport is not as convenient as private cars. As a result, cities have become decentralized, making it natural for residents to rely on private cars, and the number of areas with effective mass transit, which have an advantage over railways and buses, is decreasing. This suggests that public transport is often not actively supported by older adults and does not always lead to environmental improvements. This chapter investigates and confirms this premise. Technological innovations in automobiles, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous driving, could contribute significantly to these improvements in the long term. As an immediate policy, until these technological innovations become widespread, it is necessary to build mechanisms that apply the various subsidies already enjoyed by older adults and environmental protection efforts to public transport. In Japan, cooperation between the medical and welfare sectors for older adults and the transportation sector has been minimal, and urban planning is insufficient to support low-environmental-impact public transport. Addressing these issues is expected to generate financial resources for subsidizing public transport.
