Section 2.　Popularization of Private Passenger Cars and Passenger Transportation

1.　Urban Traffics and Public Transportation

　 　 During the past five years, the share of the passenger transportation by private passenger cars has increased in the three major urban areas (Metropolitan Area, Kinki Area, Chukyo Area). However, there is a tendency that the share has stopped rising in the central part.
　 　 Especially it already began to decrease in the twenty-three wards of Tokyo. Road development in large cities have been difficult due to the shortage of space. Under such circumstances, various measures have been taken to induce urban traffic to the efficient public transport means by the formation of a subway network and by the improvement of bus and taxi services.

2.　Countermeasures of Transportation in Provinces

　 　 ln the province, persons using the bus and railway services decreased because of depopulation and popularization of private passenger cars. (Their share in passenger transportation decreased to one-half during the past ten years). The management of bus and railway companies has been endangered by the decreasing passengers and rising costs. For this reason, the Government has provided smaller private railway companies with financial aids to make up for their deficits. It has also given financial aids to local bus lines for maintenance of the services and for purchase of new vehicles. The Government is to secure public transport services in the province through close cooperation with local self-governing bodies in consideration that securing such service is essential for the daily living of the rural inhabitants.