Tokyo's efficiency creates a future mobility challenge

Every city is unique, but a number of common themes are arising in urban areas that are sparking new developments for the automotive industry. One of these is mobility, particularly Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which is transforming the way in which city governments, technology companies and automakers are approaching the needs of citizens. Tokyo is a dense urban metropolis with a population of around 38 million people. Moreover, much of the city is dedicated to large businesses, meaning commuter numbers are extremely high. “Congestion on public transportation is a challenge for mobility,” Akitake Fujita, Principal at Arthur D. Little told Automotive World. “In the morning and late afternoon, we have heavy congestion on the train, and utilisation of the train is around 200%. This is partly because Tokyo has a very big central business district, while the residential area is suburban, so everybody must commute in the same direction.” How can we make a city that makes it easy to be an old person—an active old person who looks after their grandchildren or perhaps one who keeps on working a bit after retirement age? Car-sharing not required Mobility solutions in Tokyo vary from those in European cities where car-sharing and ride-hailing are becoming a higher priority for local governments. As Fujita explained: “In Tokyo, we have a very good public transport and taxi network, so we feel that we don’t even really need car-sharing. Furthermore, use of ride-hailing services such as Uber is restricted in Tokyo to preserve the taxi industry.” This preservation of existing services and infrastructure is something that many cities are exploring. Although mobility is a transformative issue, many cities believe that new solutions do not need to overtake tried and tested modes of transportation if these are running efficiently enough. Targeting emissions While transportation systems in the centre of Tokyo remain true to older methods, the suburbs of the city may be seeing more of a need for change. “The suburban areas will have more problems in terms of populations decreasing, which will cause lower public transport frequency,” Fujita said. “In that area some private railway companies are trying to introduce autonomous driving, robotics, and taxiing to enhance mobility and maintain, or even increase, the value of their land.” This may also lead to a rise in the local vehicle parc in these areas, which could cause increased congestion in and around cities, something which city governments are keen to avoid. To combat this, in 2003 the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) began regulating diesel vehicles. Vehicles subject to these regulations include large vehicles, such as trucks and buses. However, passenger vehicles are exempt. I don’t think Tokyo will change significantly, though there will be new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles Personal vehicle ownership trends affect the way in which city governments, along with consumers and automakers, view mobility in any given market. According to a 2015 fiscal survey of personal vehicle ownership by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), passenger car ownership among households analysed totalled 80%. Higher ownership rates could be found outside of major urban areas. However, ownership rates among single people and the elderly were much lower. Public transport continues to dominate This is further evidenced by a rise in car-sharing in Japan’s capital. “Car-sharing has been increasing rapidly in Tokyo in the past ten years, but the penetration rate per capita is still 50% of that in Germany,” Fujita explained. “The growth we have had is thanks to a new generation that does not need to own a car, but is happy to just use them as one-off services.” However, Fujita believes that part of the reason these services are not more popular is a lack of infrastructure for the vehicles when they are not in use. “Maybe one of the reasons car-sharing has not been popular in Japan is that we have not been able to put cars out in certain locations and bring them back to designated stations,” he explained. As Tokyo is still utilising its existing infrastructure for public transportation, such as metro services and trams, there may be less room for new developments that require any kind of additional space in the city. The growth we have had is thanks to a new generation that does not need to own a car but is happy to just use them in one-off services An ageing population The elderly population of Tokyo is a concern for mobility solutions in the city. As David Sim, Partner and Creative Director for Gehl Architects explained in a recent report for TMG, “Tokyo’s neighbourhood streets are the original ‘shared spaces,’ which, thanks to their slowness, comfortably accommodate all forms of traffic but somehow still manage to prioritise people. Tokyo’s resilience also comes from strong communities that can self-organise and self-help in times of disaster. Of course, there are demographic challenges ahead, including many more old people. How can we make a city that makes it easy to be an old person—an active old person who looks after their grandchildren or perhaps one who keeps on working a bit after retirement age?” Japan has one of the oldest populations and ‘the ageing of Japan’ has been a widely considered topic across many of its city’s priorities. Therefore, mobility service providers must also take this into consideration. Major event planning Large public events such as the 2020 Olympic Games that are to be held in Tokyo give rise to opportunities for automakers and technology companies alike to showcase the abilities of the city when it comes to mobility and connectivity. As JAMA explained in a recent report, “The need for optimised traffic flow on the expressway network in greater Tokyo is even more urgent with the approach of the Tokyo-hosted Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. Advanced intelligent transport systems (ITS) applications providing real-time road traffic information and dynamic route guidance will play a critical role, while new measures currently under consideration, such as a flexible tolling scheme to promote congestion-avoiding alternate-route use, will also help alleviate congestion at expressway ‘hot spots.’” In Tokyo, we have a very good public transport and taxi network, so we feel that we don’t even really need car-sharing Efficiency first Arthur D. Little’s Fujita does not anticipate great changes on the horizon for mobility in Tokyo. As he explained: “I don’t think Tokyo will change significantly, though there will be new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles (AVs).” However, Tokyo, like most other smart cities, is still prioritising the efficiency of mobility. As TMG explained in its recent infrastructure strategy report, “In areas where business, commerce, culture, sightseeing or other urban areas are concentrated, transportation infrastructure will be upgraded as an integral part of urban development. These include measures for seamless transfer between trains and buses, improved accessibility to airports, and enhanced barrier-free environments.” This article was featured in our October 2018 special report, ‘The future of mobility in Tokyo’, which is now available for download.

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