The government was poised Tuesday to submit a bill to the Diet designed to encourage transport firms and local governments to create transport systems that are easier for disabled people to use. The Transport, Construction and Home Affairs ministries as well as the National Police Agency will draw up comprehensive policies to achieve "barrier-free" systems by 2010, Transport Minister Toshihiro Nikai said. According to the bill, public transport operators -- including railways, airlines, bus and ferry firms -- must equip new stations and terminals with barrier-free devices, including elevators and escalators, to make it easier for people with impaired mobility to get around. New trains, cars, buses, ferries and aircraft will have to meet the barrier-free standards stipulated in the bill, which also calls on the government to check up on public transport operators to make sure they are working to promote barrier-free systems. Violators will be fined up to 1 million yen. Local governments that want to promote barrier-free transport systems must draw up basic plans and set a target year to make areas around traffic facilities with more than 5,000 daily users barrier-free, according to the bill. Local public transport operators, prefectural public security committees and road administrators must cooperate with local governments to carry out the barrier-free projects, including leveling height differences between streets and sidewalks, widening sidewalks and tightening rules on bicycles illegally parked on streets, according to the bill. It also calls on the central and local governments to provide the necessary public information about barrier-free facilities.
