Kobe City in western Japan is offering municipal subway users a 10 percent discount at a shopping mall in Nankin-cho, a famous Chinatown district, and restaurants in Daimaru Kobe, a long-established department store. Both are popular for shoppers. The offer is available from March 1 to May 31, 2004. Subway passengers ask for special leaflets to be stamped with "eco-stamps" at subway ticket windows and then display them at designated stores or restaurants to receive the discount.

The project, called "eco-shopping," is one of various initiatives being tried to prevent global warming and reduce air pollution, by encouraging the use of public transportation instead of private vehicles. It is aligned with the national government's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures aiming to improve traffic efficiency in urban areas and reduce environmental impacts.

As another measure to promote a shift toward public transportation, the city is also carrying out the "eco-family" project, in which one or two children up to 12 years of age can ride municipal subways or buses free of charge when accompanied by an adult. The project has been well received.



Posted: 2004/04/30 01:49:01 PM
Japanese version

TAG Global warming , Government , Local government , NGO/Citizen , System/Law , Transportation