The transport ministry plans to instruct railways to revise a regulation so that seniors and people with disabilities can bring their electric scooters onto trains, ahead of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.
According to the revision, only those who have purchased or borrowed electric scooters with government subsidies under legislation that supports people with disabilities would be allowed to board trains with the vehicles.
Currently, when people with disabilities want to board a train with such vehicles, they need to display documents that show their scooters are so designated. In addition, when they want to ride bullet trains and stay in a wheelchair-designated area, they need to make sure the scooter fits in that space.