KYOTO, Oct 02 (Information On Japan) –
Kyoto has launched a pilot venture known as the ‘HANDS FREE BUS’ to deal with overtourism and alleviate congestion on metropolis buses, significantly attributable to vacationers with massive baggage.
The brand new bus service permits vacationers to retailer their baggage within the trunk, selling a hands-free sightseeing expertise. Regardless of 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 power points in Kyoto’s public transportation system, the place vacationers carrying massive suitcases usually forestall native residents from boarding crowded metropolis buses. Moreover, the town faces a extreme scarcity of bus drivers, an issue that extends nationwide. By 2030, Japan is predicted to face a shortfall of 36,000 bus drivers because of the job’s demanding nature, irregular hours, and elevated obligations.
Consultants counsel that Japan’s present bus operation mannequin, which depends closely on fare-based income from peak commuting hours, might require a shift. Nationwide subsidies might be obligatory for the sustainable operation of bus companies, particularly in gentle of declining ridership and altering passenger expectations.
Supply: YOMIURI
