As our train departed from Tokyo to Fukushima, the hustle and bustle of the city made way for the quieter, slower paced life of the countryside. It was particularly fascinating to note the differences in sustainability between a mega-region like Tokyo and a city outside a mega-region, such as Fukushima. It was evident that both cities prioritize sustainability, but the aspects of sustainability they choose to focus on differ.
Tokyo, a mega-region, focuses mainly on accommodating its ever-growing population. Everyone has somewhere to go and somewhere to be. In order to relieve congestion and preserve the city, it allocates a tremendous amount of resources to develop sustainable forms of transportation (such as transits and bicycle riding) to maintain the orderliness of the city. On the other hand, places such as Fukushima, which are not as populated and have endured the brunt of natural disasters and nuclear explosions, has placed a greater emphasis on renewable energy. This is seen in the number of solar panels being built to generate electricity, and the city’s goal to rely 100% on renewable energy. Rather than high rises and malls populating the area, the region outside the main cities consists of small homes and gardens by the sea. The natural environment is much more prominent in this area, and efforts to both clean and preserve it are of high priority, especially as the nuclear meltdown has contaminated the area. Often times, it is a drastic event that brings about change, and it was this momentous period in Japanese history that spurred a movement toward achieving renewable energy.
I remember first hearing about the tsunami and earthquake in Japan when I was ten. I was devastated that this happened, but I do not think I ever truly understood the impact of these disasters. Visiting Fukushima in person and hearing the stories of those whose lives were affected brought a new perspective to this issue. In March 2011, both natural disasters and the nuclear plant meltdown forced people to flee their homes. My study abroad group visited abandoned elementary schools, where the classrooms remained exactly how they were left. While some were fortunate to escape the tsunami in time, many were not.
Despite the tragedies that occurred, the government and its people were determined to rebuild and restore their town. Slowly but surely, new train stations and railroads are beginning to open up, and new homes are being constructed. During our tour, we had the opportunity to visit the home of our tour guide’s father. He had lived in Fukushima his entire life but had to evacuate in 2011, and after many years, he was finally able to return home. Like our tour guide’s father, many of the elderly were able to return to the place where they grew up.
The resilience of the community was also seen in the younger generation. Being able to visit the high school in Fukushima was an uplifting experience as we were able to witness a group of students who were extremely motivated to help their community grow. Many of the students experienced bullying as a result of their displacement as their classmates would shun them for coming from a contaminated area. Despite the cruelty of their classmates, many students have been able to rise up and use their skills to benefit their community. Especially at Futaba Future High School, the faculty was set on coming alongside the students and providing them with a quality education.
Change is evident even within Japanese companies. The Japanese company, TEPCO, held enormous responsibility for the nuclear plant meltdown that occurred in 2011. Before the tsunami hit, they were determined to develop their nuclear plants as quickly as possible. However, their desire to do so came with serious repercussions. Rather than building a sea wall or building the nuclear plants on higher ground, they opted for what was easier and faster. After the disaster that ensued, they were extremely apologetic. We had the opportunity to visit their center, and they explained how they are currently using technology to remove debris and fuel from the ocean. Additionally, they are working on creating specialized suits to protect those working in the exclusion zones, areas severely affected by radioactive material. Although TEPCO’s original approach proved to be severely unsustainable, they are now making a conscious effort to improve their safety precautions for both people and the environment.
While I am not sure what I expected from visiting Fukushima, I am certain that this has been one of the most impactful trips. It brought another dimension to an event that I had only heard about in the news. It was also extremely interesting to be able to see how this community is addressing various challenges and how this event has shifted the way it addresses sustainability.
The United States and Japan have different transportation systems. There are a few contributing factors as to why their transportation system differs. For the Japanese, the first mode of transportation is the transit system within cities and to other cities. In the United States, the first mode of transportation is personal vehicles, and then airplanes for travel to other cities. The United States has cities with public transit services such as New York’s Subway, Boston’s T, San Francisco’s BART, and Atlanta’s MARTA, with some being better than others. While there are rails that connect cities to one another in the United States, it’s not used. This makes the carbon footprint per capita much higher in the United States than in Japan. With a handful of transit systems the US has, they don’t always meet the critical elements of a good transit system.
Effective transit transportation must be convenient, reliable, affordable, and enjoyable. Japan’s transit systems meets all of these criteria. There is a train station within walking distance in Tokyo, which allows the people of Japan to get anywhere in the city without the use of a car. Whereas in Atlanta, the chances of a station being near you or near your destination are very low, often causing the passenger to have to take multiple modes of transportation or walk long distances. The Japanese transit system is reliable. The trains always arrive on time within the minute and frequently serve stations. In cities like New York, there is a higher reliability rate, but in Atlanta, the MARTA is not as frequent and late up to 5 minutes. The Japanese transit system ensures that the passenger has an enjoyable ride. The cleanliness of the trains is unmatched. Every train car and train station is clean and well kept. Unfortunately, there have been far too many times within any transit system in the US that has smelled of human urine. With MARTA, the system is not convenient, reliable, affordable, nor enjoyable for the entire population of Atlanta. However, the transit system in Tokyo is equitable and accessible by all of its inhabitants.
Not only is the transit system not as effective within cities, but the United States does not have an effective system connecting other cities. To begin with, the sheer land size of the United States and Japan differs. The United States is 9.8 million sq. kilometers, and Japan is 378 thousand sq. kilometers. Because of its size, it is easier to create a transit system that connects all of the cities for a country like Japan. However, its size is no reason why the United States does not have an effective transportation system. Europe is 10.18 million square kilometers, yet it has an extensive transit system connecting cities across its countryside. Europeans use the train system to commute and to travel, which resembles how the system would be used here in the United States as well. European trains service 460 billion-passenger kilometers in a year in 2017 and Japan serviced 10 billion people in 2015. The size of the United States should not deter the United States from having an affective transportation system that connects its cities together. It is simply that the United States does not prioritize sustainable transportation like many other parts of the world.
However, Rail companies in Japan such as the JR East do prioritize and understand the importance of sustainable transportation. JR East is a Japanese company that has created the rails that span over the country side of Japan as well as metro Tokyo. They have a research facility that focuses on the safety and engineering of new technology as well as the human experience of their trains and stations. They are creating ground breaking innovations such as train break pads, single-hinged catenary wires, and battery powered mixed electric trains to name a few. Not only does JR East create innovative engineering solutions, they are also dedicated to researching the development and reduction of environmental loads with building more energy efficient power plants, more renewable energy sources, sustainable building systems, and energy saving snow removal. Even though JR East is focusing on more sustainable transportation with innovative solutions, they still have the passenger in mind. They also test the visibility of their signs depending on the height of the ceiling. They are also researching more ways for the person to scan by just walking through the gates. The facility is consistently looking for ways to make the ride more enjoyable and easier on the passenger through innovative technology. Much like the rest of the Japanese transit system, JR East has the passenger in mind and ensures they are comfortable and safe. JR East’s efforts are a part of Japan’s sustainable transit system and help make Japan be an inspiration for the United States to emulate.
It is very clear after the in-class lectures and from my firsthand experience over the past week that Japan’s approach to sustainable transit far surpasses that of the United States. They equip their extensive network of trains and monorails with some of the worlds’ finest technology, and have privately-owned rail companies that invest in research and innovation. The Tokyo Transit system has mastered the elements of good transportation, creating a system that other forms of transportation are not able to compete with in terms of convenience and sustainability.
The most critical elements of providing good transit include having stops and stations in major hubs that are easily connected to each other. The Tokyo Metro does an excellent job of this - it has more than 170 stations around the entire city, with bigger stations in popular areas and business districts. A good deal of US transportation systems, on the other hand, do not typically consist of as many stopping places. Back home in Atlanta, MARTA receives criticism because it has very few stops, and many of the stations are not in easily accessible areas. Personally, I only ever really rely on MARTA when I’m in a pinch to get from the airport to Georgia Tech or from Georgia Tech to downtown. In Tokyo, we’ve been able to use the train system each day and locate a walkable station from wherever we are.
Another important element of good transit systems is frequency of arrivals and departures. Japanese trains have a very quick turnover –so far in Tokyo I’ve never had to wait more than five minutes for a train, whereas in the United States trains usually come in fifteen minute intervals. MARTA and similar US transit services can also experience delays and are often late, while the Japanese rail system is extremely timely. It helps that Japanese transit systems get the right of way and don’t have to account for traffic or sharing the rails as US transit services do. This reliability is an important element of good transportation because it gives customers an incentive to choose the railways over private transportation. Many Americans don’t use their local public transportation systems for this reason – the risk of being late to work or missing a connecting service outweighs the other benefits.
Source: Georgia State University
Our tour of the JR East facility showed me just how much money and research the Japanese have invested into making their transit system more sustainable and user-friendly. They are piloting solar panel blinds and window attachments to generate electricity for the station. They also are looking into technology that could capture the energy used when braking to conserve as much energy as possible. I thought it truly showed their commitment to being more sustainable that as a private company, they were taking the initiative to fund the development of a more energy-efficient system. JR East is also testing improvements that prolong the lifetime of the tracks and make the rail system more accessible to all customers. We got to tour their cement testing facility, where they are able to simulate the weight of a train on various types of concrete to test its durability. They also showed us new turnstiles that are more easily accessible for wheelchairs and an overhead system that can read Suica cards automatically. These sustainable improvements will save JR East money on energy while also reducing their energy demand and emissions.
Overall, exploring Tokyo’s transportation system has shown me that the US has a lot to learn from the Japanese in terms of providing effective and sustainable transit. Many of our transit systems struggle to meet the goals of good transit service, making private transportation the most desirable option to get around a metro area. JR East is constantly working to improve the sustainability, durability, and accessibility of their railways. If the US could invest in similar technologies, it would make public transportation more feasible for many people and reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
There are four main elements that good transit service requires. In all those areas, the US lags behind Japan. From our lectures in 3232 and “Does the Future of Mobility Depend on Public Transportation?” by Dr. Watkins, the four elements of good transit are:
If travel is a utility, then mobility must be a service
Spatial priority must be given to collective transportation modes
Focus first on service, then on technology
“Scientia potential est” – knowledge is power
During our tours, I witnessed Japan implementing these points.
In Tokyo, transit is a utility that anyone can use. While not all the stations are disability accessible, they are working towards adding more wheelchair friendly paths. I mentioned the rubber paths for blind people in my previous post, which makes me believe that Japan values mobility as a service for the people. JR East, a rail company in Tokyo, talked about their priorities as a company (see below). They valued passenger safety highly. By focusing on servicing people, Japan makes transportation sustainable because it benefits people socially by giving them access to any place they need to go. Compared to MARTA, the Tokyo transit massively out serves the Atlanta system. It’s hard to believe that the US values mobility as a service, if it is restricted to people who have access to cars. Many people in Atlanta have no means of getting around and thus live in food deserts/swamps where they can’t access healthy food.
In Tokyo, the trains rule. By that I mean that they have priority over other vehicles. By being in Japan, I’ve witnessed a hierarchy of transportation. Trains have the highest right of way, followed by people and bikes, then cars. People do have to wait at stop lights for cars, but in many places there are significantly more people walking than driving, and the allowed walk time seems to be longer than in the US. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible in the US because everything is so spread out. Even though we have a lower density, that shouldn’t stop us from getting better access to public transit. If anything, it makes it more important because everything is farther apart.
The US likes to try out new technology without really thinking about why it should be used. We talked about Hyperloop during lecture and how it’s being implemented in places where it’s not really necessary. Transportation should be used to fulfill a need in the community, and we should find technology to fit those needs. Not try to create needs that don’t exist to find uses for technology. JR is working on lines to decrease the travel time and decrease congestion on trains. As people use the system more and more, they are able to expand their services which then allows more people to use it.
Lastly, information must be available to the consumers. MARTA has their on the go app – which I haven’t used because they have the times in the stations and the map is really simple. I haven’t used the bus system, but the trains have been mostly on time. In Tokyo, there are train apps that I haven’t used either, but information about the system is readily available both inside and outside the trains. It would be cool to track the trains in live time, but it’s almost not necessary because the trains are always on time here.
I didn’t mean to bash the US in this blog, but I can’t think of many positives to our transit system, especially in Atlanta. There are plans to improve MARTA at least. Unfortunately, they will take at least a decade to implement and I’m not sure how some of the features, like streetcars will be effective if they have to compete with cars. I hope we can improve our transit system faster and follow some of the more successful systems in the world.
After residing in Tokyo for the past week, I have noticed the benefits of public transportation that the United States fails to offer. The United States is focusing on self-driving cars and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft rather than public transportation services such as the subway and bus transit. While TNCs greatly reduce the stress and time involved with driving on the road, they fail to reduce the number of trips taken on the road as single occupant vehicles. Moreover, these implementations continue to gear towards a car-oriented environment, to which research has provided evidence of associated negative health outcomes. In Japan, however, car ownership and parking services are more expensive, which provides a greater incentive for people to take advantage of the public transit system. More specifically, the Japanese train system provides three types of service to ensure fast, efficient transportation for all of its users: express, rapid, and local. Thus, long-distance commuters can choose to take an express or rapid line, which do not stop at every station, to greatly reduce commute time to and from work and also help out those who are running late. With an emphasis on public transit services, Japan has become well-known for its sustainable train systems which have both achieved high safety and stability levels and made significant social contributions. Unlike the United States, Japan has also successfully addressed smart and sustainable transportation in not only its train systems but also its bike and walk accessibility.
To successfully provide a good transit service, a city, region, or country, must acquire the following seven components: connectivity between stations, frequency or span, fares, civility, reliability, simplicity, as well as speed or delay. The transit must stop near your start and stop destination, and there must also be a reasonable waiting time at each stop. Additionally, it is important to consider the safety and amenities (i.e. maps, vending machines, benches) provided by a transit service, including a reasonable and perhaps subsidized cost for each trip. The network covering all the available transit lines as well as its presentation must be simple enough for the commuter to easily remember and learn. In terms of civility, the transit system must provide a welcoming passenger environment in terms of cleanliness, appearance, helpful customer information, and sufficient station operators. After using Tokyo's public transit system for the past several days, I noticed that while Japan has successfully addressed all of the aforementioned components, the MARTA transit system back in Atlanta fails to do so. The waiting times are unreliable, and for frequent commuters, the ticket fare can be viewed on the pricier side. Furthermore, there also seems to be an insufficient number of workers, and the overall appearance at each station fails to establish a welcoming environment.
On Thursday, we visited JR East's Research and Development Facility, a railway company that works at the forefront of sustainable transportation. After touring their facilities, I learned that they are currently working on a new ticket gate to help wheelchair-bound individuals easily tap their train ticket or card on the machine. The ticket reader on current machines is located flat on the surface, which makes it hard for those on wheelchairs to reach the reader. To resolve this issue, their new machine will have a slanted surface on the side where the reader is located to improve usability for all commuters. Along with this innovation, JR East is also working on a different ticket gate that utilizes laser technology to detect commuters already carrying their train pass, to prevent the many issues that can arise from swiping or inserting a ticket into the machine. They are also designing solar-paneled blinds and earthquake-proof concrete for their respective energy conservation and disaster-relief initiatives.
With these cutting-edge technologies, it is clear that such developments are not to increase company profit or to elevate their reputation in the transportation industry. Rather, their goals are oriented towards the people of Japan, the millions of commuters who frequently utilize their services - all to continue driving the country towards a new generation of transportation, making it more sustainable and efficient as ever for a continuously increasing population living in an extremely dense area. As I embark on the travel leg next week, I hope to learn more about Japan's transit services and how it will improve sustainability in its future developments in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Although I have spent less than a week in Tokyo, the stark differences between Japan’s transport system and the transport system used in the United States became obvious to me within the first 24 hours of my stay here. After having experienced the public transportation system of Atlanta, a major American city, versus that of Tokyo, a major Japanese city, the mass transit system utilized in Japan is blatantly miles ahead of the mass transit systems in the United States (no pun intended). In Japan, the usage of collective transportation is firmly emphasized; everyone from smartly-dressed businessmen to young schoolchildren clad in adorable uniforms makes use of public transportation. On the other hand, Americans still rely largely on personal cars as their main mode of transportation, which is far less sustainable because the vast quantity of mainly single-occupancy vehicles releases more carbon emissions than public transportation. I have been fortunate enough to explore a considerable portion of Tokyo this past week, and one thing that I have noticed is that the highways are nowhere near as congested as those of Atlanta; in comparison, Atlanta traffic makes the road system of Tokyo look deserted, which is obviously due to the extensive use of the mass transit system in Tokyo. If American cities like Atlanta were to elevate and emphasize collective transportation to a comparable level, this more-sustainable form of transportation could have positive implications that resound throughout American society.
According to a report titled “Human Transit” by Jarrett Walker, he has dubbed seven elements as being the “7 Demands of Useful Service”, namely that transit takes individuals 1) where they want to go, 2) when they want to get there; constitutes 3) a good use of time and 4) a good use of money; 5) respects individuals and 6) provides them with a service that they know they can trust; and 7) gives people the freedom to make and change plans freely. Connecting to the fact that Japan’s mass transportation system is clearly more sustainable than that of the United States, I have also noticed that the transit in Japan meets these seven needs far more seamlessly than transit in the United States. In Japan, specifically in Tokyo, the system of collective transportation fulfills the “7 Demands of Useful Service” because it is 1) extensive and 2) frequently has trains arriving and departing the numerous stations; 3) is notoriously efficient with an almost flawless track record and 4) is relatively cheap and affordable; 5) makes commuters feel safe and 6) provides them with a reliable service; and 7) is flexible enough that individuals do not have to build their lives around train schedules. Conversely, the mass transit system in the United States, especially in the city of Atlanta, lags behind Japan in these aspects because 1) it is not as far-reaching and 2) has a longer time interval for when trains travel from station to station; 3) can waste commuters’ time with considerable waiting periods, although 4) it is still a price-friendly option; 5) does not create an environment in which people, particularly women and children, feel safe and 6) is infamously unreliable; and 7) causes many users of this form of transportation to have to formulate their lives around when it is available.
Our class was lucky enough to obtain the privilege of touring the JR East research and development facility, which has introduced many innovations in the realm of collective transportation and is studying ways to further elevate the mass transit experience in Japan. Before our tour, our guide explained to us that the four main focuses of JR East are 1) safety, 2) service, 3) maintenance of railways, and 4) the environment, and they possess a number of laboratories within the facility that test methods for improving aspects of the mass transportation system involved with each of these focuses. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed inside the facility, but we were able to view many initiatives that JR East intends to implement to improve the commuter experience, such as placing higher ceilings in stations with a higher volume of commuters, developing different types of tile flooring to ensure cleanliness and walkability, and making the process of scanning individuals’ rail passes more efficient with touchless sensors. Overall, it was clear that JR East is committed to taking strides in each of its four main focuses, and as our guide informed us, JR East’s central goal is to satisfy its passengers and provide them with an enjoyable and efficient transit experience.
Over the course of this past week, by attending lectures and familiarizing myself with the Japanese transportation system, I have gained greater insight on various approaches to sustainable and effective transportation. There are notable differences between sustainable transportation between the United States and Japan. The United States relies heavily on private transportation, which does not prove to be sustainable as the majority of the time people drive in cars that are not fully occupied. This results in an unnecessarily high number of cars on the road, increasing emission levels and crowding roads. As a student from the busy city of Atlanta, I can attest that commuting to and from the city is absolutely horrendous with the tremendous amount of traffic. However, despite this inconvenience, the alternate option of public transportation is a nightmare. Atlanta’s MARTA system has time after time has proven to be unreliable with buses failing to arrive on time and trains with seats that are falling apart at the seams. The lack of prioritization on public transportation has only discouraged its usage and has increased preference towards private, less sustainable transportation.
A MARTA Breeze card, which I have used once over the past year
On the contrary, the majority of transportation in Japan consists of public transportation or non-motorized forms of transportation, with as little as 10% of transportation involving usage of motorized vehicles. Private companies invest vast amounts of funds Japan’s extensive metro system, which furthers its development and efficiency. This has made public transportation the preferred option for Japanese residents, and even as a tourist here, I have only used the transit system and my own two feet to get around. Because Japan is so densely populated, most development is concentrated in one area, making walking to and from places extremely easy. Biking is another popular option for Japanese residents, and even on busy streets, I have noticed people traveling on bicycles. These forms of transportation are far more sustainable options and minimize the number of vehicles with unused space.
Traveling within a Japanese rail station
There exist seven elements of providing an effective transit service, which Japan’s transit system serves as an excellent model for. These characteristics are that it takes me where I want to go, takes me when I want to go, is a good use of my time, is a good use of my money, respects me, I can trust it, and gives me the freedom to change my plans. The first element of it taking me where I go involves providing stops that are proximate to the destination as well as allowing passengers to connect to stops. However, the timing of the trains also has to appropriately serve its users. It is important the transit offers a convenient train schedule and minimizes wait time. It must be a good use of time by providing speedy transportation with minimal delays. Effective transit is also a good use of money, providing an affordable and cost-efficient option. The transit must also ensure safety as well as be a reliable service. The last element of an effective transit involves giving freedom to change plans, which means providing a network that is simple and easy to learn and remember. Even with amazing features in place, they will be rendered useless if the users cannot easily navigate and understand how the system works. Although Japan meets the criteria of an effective transit system, it is actively working to improve these elements to maintain the system’s top-notch service.
Informational signs within a Japanese rail station
JR East is a railway company that conducts extensive research to continually improve the functionality and sustainability of the railways in Japan. They provided my study abroad group a tour of their facility, where we were able to learn about their latest initiatives. In light of a recent derailment accident, they are currently focusing on developing a car location detection system and a warning system that alarms when there is an imbalance in the wheels. This works to improve both the safety and reliability of the transit system. This company is also researching ways to use renewable energy sources and create power storage systems to eliminate any wasted energy. Additionally, they are working to create a train with an even higher speed than the current high-speed Shinkansen train. This is working toward further saving the time of its users. Japan is clearly putting in admirable effort to create a superb transportation system. Their efforts to create more sustainable transportation has most definitely encouraged me to strive towards a path toward sustainable transportation back in the United States.
Over the course of this past week, by attending lectures and familiarizing myself with the Japanese transportation system, I have gained greater insight on various approaches to sustainable and effective transportation. There are notable differences between sustainable transportation between the United States and Japan. The United States relies heavily on private transportation, which does not prove to be sustainable as the majority of the time people drive in cars that are not fully occupied. This results in an unnecessarily high number of cars on the road, increasing emission levels and crowding roads. As a student from the busy city of Atlanta, I can attest that commuting to and from the city is absolutely horrendous with the tremendous amount of traffic. However, despite this inconvenience, the alternate option of public transportation is a nightmare. Atlanta’s MARTA system has time after time has proven to be unreliable with buses failing to arrive on time and trains with seats that are falling apart at the seams. The lack of prioritization on public transportation has only discouraged its usage and has increased preference towards private, less sustainable transportation.
A MARTA Breeze card, which I have used once over the past year
On the contrary, the majority of transportation in Japan consists of public transportation or non-motorized forms of transportation, with as little as 10% of transportation involving usage of motorized vehicles. Private companies invest vast amounts of funds Japan’s extensive metro system, which furthers its development and efficiency. This has made public transportation the preferred option for Japanese residents, and even as a tourist here, I have only used the transit system and my own two feet to get around. Because Japan is so densely populated, most development is concentrated in one area, making walking to and from places extremely easy. Biking is another popular option for Japanese residents, and even on busy streets, I have noticed people traveling on bicycles. These forms of transportation are far more sustainable options and minimize the number of vehicles with unused space.
Traveling within a Japanese rail station
There exist seven elements of providing an effective transit service, which Japan’s transit system serves as an excellent model for. These characteristics are that it takes me where I want to go, takes me when I want to go, is a good use of my time, is a good use of my money, respects me, I can trust it, and gives me the freedom to change my plans. The first element of it taking me where I go involves providing stops that are proximate to the destination as well as allowing passengers to connect to stops. However, the timing of the trains also has to appropriately serve its users. It is important the transit offers a convenient train schedule and minimizes wait time. It must be a good use of time by providing speedy transportation with minimal delays. Effective transit is also a good use of money, providing an affordable and cost-efficient option. The transit must also ensure safety as well as be a reliable service. The last element of an effective transit involves giving freedom to change plans, which means providing a network that is simple and easy to learn and remember. Even with amazing features in place, they will be rendered useless if the users cannot easily navigate and understand how the system works. Although Japan meets the criteria of an effective transit system, it is actively working to improve these elements to maintain the system’s top-notch service.
Informational signs within a Japanese rail station
JR East is a railway company that conducts extensive research to continually improve the functionality and sustainability of the railways in Japan. They provided my study abroad group a tour of their facility, where we were able to learn about their latest initiatives. In light of a recent derailment accident, they are currently focusing on developing a car location detection system and a warning system that alarms when there is an imbalance in the wheels. This works to improve both the safety and reliability of the transit system. This company is also researching ways to use renewable energy sources and create power storage systems to eliminate any wasted energy. Additionally, they are working to create a train with an even higher speed than the current high-speed Shinkansen train. This is working toward further saving the time of its users. Japan is clearly putting in admirable effort to create a superb transportation system. Their efforts to create more sustainable transportation has most definitely encouraged me to strive towards a path toward sustainable transportation back in the United States.
Japan’s transportation is extremely different than the U.S.; while you can find the same types of transit (buses, cars, subways, monorails), their infrastructure and usage vary wildly. The U.S. mainly uses motorized personal vehicles to travel from place to place. Most households have at least one car and many households have multiple. I know my family has always had at least two cars, with that number increasing to 5 as my siblings and I grew up and began to drive. Japan, however, has many fewer motor vehicle usage, instead relying heavily on nonmotorized transport such as walking or biking, and public transport, like buses and subways. Public transit exists in the U.S., but it is much less used that public transit in Japan. Japan’s use of space and transportation infrastructure makes their public transport more available and convenient, increasing the sustainability of the transit system. Tokyo’s sidewalks on busy roads are either fenced off from the street, or in most places, raised above the street. This prevents pedestrian traffic from interfering with road traffic, allowing for more efficient and reliable bus systems. The railways are kept away from the roads and sidewalks for the most part, being raised above or below the streets. In the U.S., pedestrian traffic is usually not kept separate. Buses sometimes have their own “bus lane,” but I have found that in Atlanta, that rule is largely ignored by personal motor vehicles. Comparing a map of MARTA to a map of Tokyo’s subway system, the difference is extremely clear. MARTA is a small cross of just 4 lines while Tokyo is an intricate web of lines. This all leads up to the fact that Japan has 1/7 of the emissions per capita than America, making their transportation more sustainable.
But there is more to transportation than just emissions. People in Tokyo and Japan eagerly use the public transit systems; they rely on it. People in America generally tend to avoid public transit systems if they can help it. This difference is explained by what makes a transit system good. A good transit system is convenient in location, timely, financially efficient, trustworthy, and comfortable. A good and sustainable transit system adds equity, safety, heath, and environmental impact into the mix. Japan’s transit systems were built in such a way that buildings and neighborhoods developed around the railway stops, inherently making them convenient. America built the railways where the population already was, making it less direct. The Tokyo transit system is frequent, reliable, and efficient. I haven’t ridden public transportation in many cities, so I can only speak for Atlanta Usually the transit system is late, and infrequent enough that I always allow extra time whenever I travel with it. One aspect of Tokyo’s transit system that I cannot outright praise is the cost. While it is probably economically efficient for a local Tokyo resident who only travels to and from work every day, I have easily spent $15 on subway tickets in one day. While this is cheaper than an Uber in Japan, I still find it a large amount of money. But the convenience of the Tokyo subway system far outweighs the price, making it still worthwhile.
I had the pleasure of touring the Japan Rail East Research Facility, a leading company in the Japanese subway system. The tour was incredibly interesting; they are testing and developing improvements to the railway system I never even considered. For example, they are testing ideal ceiling levels for subway wind flow, various stair railings and gate designs, new escalators to support the load in subway stations, and lighting. The most interesting aspect for me was the development of solar panels for the subway station windows. This is an excellent use of space and a renewable way to generate energy. The newest design put the tiny solar panels on blinds so they can adjust to the position of the sun throughout the day. Japan Rail’s innovation in the past has been commendable and their plans for the future are inspiring. I am very excited to see the improvements of the subway system in the coming years.
There are many different ways that cities can implement public transportation as a sustainable way to get around. From class and the readings, I learned that American cities like Pittsburgh are implementing right of way A bus lanes and Seattle and Boston are doing the same by actually giving buses their own stations. And, of course, New York implements an underground train system as the main part of their transit service. While Japan also uses trains as the primary leg of their transportation system, they do so in a much different, and in my opinion, more sustainable way.
In the US, the government must subsidize public transportation so that it is able to cover operating costs and continue running. However, in Japan, the rail companies are privately owned, as is the land surrounding rail stations, so they are able to both cover operating costs as well as make a profit (picture below shows buildings on JR-owned land around a station). This is a much more sustainable model for many reasons. One reason is that transit systems do not have to rely on the government to keep them in operation, so, if the government faces a recession or change of dominating party where they rewrite the budget, transit systems are not at risk of grinding to a halt because of bureaucratic issues, whereas in the US this can be a concern. Also, because Japanese rail companies make a profit, they are able to fund their own research into innovating their transit service, making it faster and safer for all who use it. In the US however, little innovation is being introduced into public transit due to a lack of funding from the government.
When I think about the American transit system, I think about bureaucracy, inconvenience, unreliability, and hassle. In my personal experience riding MARTA in Atlanta, the buses often get caught in congestion due to poor city planning in Atlanta, causing numerous delays. The trains are not much better though, at times being 20 minutes late for the scheduled arrival time. It seems that the American approach to development is to do what is cheapest and easiest. As detailed in the UN report, however, public transit is the transportation of the future. As countries develop, populations grow, and the Earth continues to experience global warming, public transit will be the prevailing mode of transportation, because it is the most sustainable.
There are many different factors that play into making a good transit service. To me, the most important aspects of a good transit system are reliability, speed, convenience, and cost. These are all things that stand out as highlights of Japanese transit. I have been so impressed by how easy it is to navigate through many different areas of Tokyo using the train system. I never have to wait more than a few minutes for a train to come, and I have options between local, rapid, and express transit lines that give me flexibility to get to my destination faster if I’m going further. I really admire this and more about Japan’s transit, and was really impressed by the research that JR east was conducting in the areas of efficient and green energy use, customer safety and comfort, and use of new technology to make trains faster and more durable.
From the tour of the JR east research facility, a few things stood out to me. First, I was impressed by how much thought they put into every single aspect of the rail transit experience, from choosing the material and color of the tiling on the floor to testing the durability of the track to finding the best angle for wheelchair-accessible Suica scanners. Another thing that struck me was the sheer innovation that was taking place in the facility. I loved the idea they shared about having green air conditioning by pumping the cooler air from below ground in train stations. I also liked the idea of taking the energy the train uses while accelerating and decelerating and channeling it back into the train. I thought all of their innovations were truly the technology of the future, and greatly admired how much thought and time went into every aspect of their service. The picture below is of a customer service robot that was in one of the JR stations. We were able to ask the robot where something was, and it showed us on a digital map the route we needed to take to get there. This is just one example of the numerous innovations taking place in Tokyo’s transit systems.
