Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the number of low-floor buses in the nation, especially suitable for the elderly passengers, stood at 18,672 at the end of 2012. The number represents 31.7% of the total bus fleet, and is 1.8 more than the year before.

Of Okinawa’s buses 8.79% are low-floor type, earning the prefecture the 39^th place on the list.

Low-floor buses have floor level, which is only 30 cm above ground. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set a target of 35,000 such buses by 2020.

A ministry spokesman said “The numbers in big cities are rising. We are asking for regional bus companies to use the government subsidy system to replace old buses with low-floor buses.”

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