KYOTO, Oct 02 (News On Japan) –
Kyoto has launched a pilot mission referred to as the ‘HANDS FREE BUS’ to deal with overtourism and alleviate congestion on metropolis buses, significantly attributable to vacationers with massive baggage.
The new bus service permits vacationers to retailer their baggage within the trunk, selling a hands-free sightseeing expertise. Despite the service’s potential to ease public transportation crowding, preliminary uptake has been low, with no customers reported on the primary day.
The initiative addresses persistent points in Kyoto’s public transportation system, the place vacationers carrying massive suitcases usually stop native residents from boarding crowded metropolis buses. Additionally, town faces a extreme scarcity of bus drivers, an issue that extends nationwide. By 2030, Japan is anticipated to face a shortfall of 36,000 bus drivers as a result of job’s demanding nature, irregular hours, and elevated tasks.
Experts counsel that Japan’s present bus operation mannequin, which depends closely on fare-based income from peak commuting hours, could require a shift. Nationwide subsidies may very well be mandatory for the sustainable operation of bus providers, particularly in gentle of declining ridership and altering passenger expectations.
Source: YOMIURI