Keynote talk: Understanding human activity-travel behavior toward accessible cities and transportation for all
Keynote speaker: Prof. Nobuaki OHMORI; Department of Civil Engineering and Regional Design, Utsunomiya University
People living in cities engage in a variety of activities at home and in other locations as part of their daily lives. For instance, they participate in mandatory activities, such as sleeping and eating; maintenance activities, such as working and grocery shopping; and discretionary activities, such as leisure and recreation. To carry out these activities, people travel from home to various places. Generally, travel—such as commuting to work or going to the supermarket—is considered a demand derived from the need to engage in activities at different destinations, with travel time often seen as wasted time. As a result, people tend to prefer shorter travel times, lower costs, and less physical and mental fatigue while traveling.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were required to limit going out, and online activities such as teleworking and home delivery services spread rapidly worldwide. However, people cannot stay at home indefinitely; they seek the positive utility of travel and want to go outside. Travel and participating in activities outside the home are essential for maintaining physical and mental well-being.
Many developed countries are currently facing declining populations and aging societies, and developing countries will likely encounter similar challenges in the near future. Individuals with mobility difficulties, such as the elderly, disabled persons, injured individuals, pregnant women, children, and parents with young children, encounter various physical, informational, and institutional barriers when going out and traveling. Therefore, cities and transportation systems must be made accessible so that everyone can travel and participate in out-of-home activities safely and securely.
To achieve this, it is not enough to simply develop accessible built environments in cities and transportation systems. It is also crucial to foster a better understanding of barrier-free, accessible design and to raise public awareness about the importance of creating cities and transportation systems that are inclusive for all.
