世論 What Japan Thinks

The government of Japan may have changed, but the Cabinet Office Japan surveys are carrying on – it’ll be interesting to see if I can detect a change in tone in the questions. This survey was entitled a built environment for pedestrians, but also covered most other local transport means.

Demographics

Between the 16th of July and the 2nd of August 2009 5,000 members of the public were selected at random to complete the survey; 3,157 people, or 63.1%, agreed to cooperate. 54.4% of this sample were female, 7.8% in their twenties, 14.3% in their thirties, 17.1% in their forties, 19.8% in their fifties, 23.4% in their sixties, and 17.6% aged seventy or older. Additionally, 46.1% were employed, 11.6% were self-employed, 3.0% were home workers, and 39.3% were unemployed, including students and housewives, who made up 60.9% of that 39.3%. Finally, 47.8% drove some form of motorised transport almost every day, 15.7% several times a week, 7.3% several times a month, 8.3% had a licence but didn’t drive, and 20.9% did not have a licence.

I have a licence but rent a car about once every two months or so, so I don’t really know where I would fall in the demographic question above. I also managed to get a fixed penalty parking fine (15,000 yen!) last weekend, but that’s another story.

My commute is train only – my home is one minute from the station, work is two minutes away at the other end, so I cannot see any point in having a car.

Research results

Q1: When commuting to work or school, which of the following modes of transport do you use? (Sample size=3,157, multiple answer)

Own car (to SQ)	33.4%
Train, including underground, tram, etc	12.9%
Bicycle	9.5%
Walking only	5.1%
Bus	4.8%
Motorcycle, scooter	2.7%
Company, friend’s car (to SQ)	1.4%
Taxi (to SQ)	0.4%
Don’t commute to work, school	43.5%
Other	0.1%

Q1SQ was for those selecting cars, but who also did not use buses or trains.

Q1SQ: Why don’t you use buses or trains? (Sample size=1,028, multiple answer)

Can get to where I’m going directly by car without having to change trains, etc	49.4%
Car is more pleasant than buses or trains	30.2%
No buses or trains that I can use	28.7%
Car is quicker than buses or trains	26.5%
Car is more convenient time-wise than buses or trains	19.9%
Because I have a lot to carry	18.8%
It’s far to the bus stop, train station	17.5%
Like driving	6.3%
Car is more economical than buses or trains	5.4%
There’s no parking facilities at the station, bus terminal	2.9%
Other	3.2%
Don’t know	0.6%

Q2: Other than when commuting to work or school, such as for shopping or leisure, which of the following modes of transport do you use? (Sample size=3,157, multiple answer)

Own car (to SQ)	73.0%
Bicycle	23.9%
Train, including underground, tram, etc	23.8%
Walking only	16.3%
Bus	14.3%
Taxi (to SQ)	3.9%
Motorcycle, scooter	3.5%
Company, friend’s car (to SQ)	3.4%
Other	0.3%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q2SQ was for those selecting cars, but who also did not use buses or trains.

Q2SQ: Why don’t you use buses or trains? (Sample size=1,897, multiple answer)

Can get to where I’m going directly by car without having to change trains, etc	51.2%
Because I have a lot to carry	40.2%
Car is more pleasant than buses or trains	36.5%
Car is quicker than buses or trains	24.9%
Car is more convenient time-wise than buses or trains	20.9%
No buses or trains that I can use	18.9%
It’s far to the bus stop, train station	17.7%
Like driving	7.6%
Car is more economical than buses or trains	6.2%
There’s no parking facilities at the station, bus terminal	3.1%
Other	1.7%
Don’t know	1.3%

Next they were all shown a card describing what a built environment for pedestrians was and were asked to read it carefully.

Q3: In your daily life, up to about how far is within range for walking? (Sample size=3,157)

Up to 500 metres	21.6%
501 to 1,000 metres	37.3%
1,001 to 1,500 metres	17.3%
1,501 to 2,000 metres	12.1%
2,001 metres or more	9.7%
Other	0.8%
Don’t know	1.2%

Q4: In your daily life, up to about how far is within range for cycling? (Sample size=3,157)

Up to 1,000 metres	11.9%
1,001 to 3,000 metres	31.7%
3,001 to 5,000 metres	23.9%
5,001 to 7,000 metres	8.7%
7,001 to 10,000 metres	4.6%
10,001 metres or more	4.2%
Other	1.9%
Don’t know	13.1%

Q5: Is the area where you live somewhere that one can live easily by walking only? Which of the following is closest to the actual situation? (Sample size=3,157)

Can get to closest facilities by foot or bicycle, and can get to the centre of town by public transport	47.9%
Cannot get to closest facilities by foot or bicycle, and bcannot get to the centre of town by public transport	18.1%
Cannot get to closest facilities by foot or bicycle, but can get to the centre of town by public transport	16.9%
Can get to closest facilities by foot or bicycle, but cannot get to the centre of town by public transport	14.3%
Other	0.4%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q6: What problems does the town centre in the area where you live have? (Sample size=3,157, multiple answer)

There’s no attractive shops, cannot buy what I want to buy	40.6%
There’s few people about, so the place doesn’t feel lively	32.1%
Inconvenient to use trains, buses, other public transport	29.4%
Narrow roads, so inconvenient for cars, bicycles, pedestrians, etc	24.5%
Not enough car, bicycle parking	24.0%
Medical, welfare, cultural, educational, etc facilities are insufficient	23.9%
There’s no places to pass the time with family, neighbours	22.8%
Other	3.1%
Don’t know	9.2%

Q7: Do you agree that a built environment for pedestrians should be promoted? (Sample size=3,157)

Agree (to SQ1)	61.5%
Perhaps agree (to SQ1)	31.5%
Perhaps disagree (to SQ2)	2.2%
Disagree (to SQ2)	1.0%
Don’t know	3.8%

Q7SQ1: Why do you agree that a built environment for pedestrians should be promoted? (Sample size=2,937, multiple answer)

It will be easy for old folks and others who cannot use cars to live in	73.9%
Car accidents will decrease, walking will be safer, and one will be able to use bicycles	44.6%
Decreased car use will decrease the impact on the environment	42.7%
Be related to revitalising the town centre	30.1%
Will become easy to promote a local sense of community	26.1%
A compact town will reduce the burden for managing public facilities, welfare measures, etc	21.5%
Will stop urban sprawl	8.8%
Other	0.7%
Don’t know	0.8%

Q7SQ2: Why do you disagree that a built environment for pedestrians should be promoted? (Sample size=99, multiple answer)

Cars are convenient, car-friendly built environment should be created	35.4%
Trains, buses, other public transport is inconvenient	35.4%
A compact town will increase the burden on the environment, finances	22.2%
Want to live out of town in a rich natural environment	18.2%
Other	8.1%
Don’t know	8.1%

Q8: In order to promote a built environment for pedestrians, what measures do you think are necessary? (Sample size=3,157, multiple answer)

Provide many essential services for daily life within walking or cycling distance	55.7%
Make roads more safe, friendly for pedestrians, cyclists	46.6%
Centralise shopping, culture, welfare, other facilities in the town centre so that they are easy to access by public transport	35.8%
Provide more convenient public transport facilities, public transport interchanges	34.0%
Increase greenery, parks in the town centre to make a refreshing environment	30.3%
In areas where car use is unavoidable, provide community buses, other public transport	29.4%
Build residences in the town centre for all ages to live in	25.0%
Promote car-sharing schemes, joint car-ownership clubs	11.1%
Limit greenbelt development, urban sprawl	7.8%
Nothing in particular	4.5%
Other	0.5%
Don’t know	2.8%