Postal pickup pilot for pensioners in Japan
Reported at www.asahi.com
Along with delivering packages and parcels, postal vans in a village in Hokkaido, Japan, are now transporting another important cargo: elderly passengers.
The delivery vehicles are providing transportation for elderly residents living in a rural area with limited cab service, under a public ride-share program launched on a trial basis.
The test, conducted in the town of Kami-Shihoro, is the first of its kind across Japan, as local governments elsewhere typically rely on private automobiles under their fee-based ride-sharing systems.
“Post offices are already equipped with vehicles and delivery networks, so any infrastructure facilities need not be newly put in place,” said Kami-Shihoro Mayor. “Postal workers are familiar faces to local residents, which allows people to feel safe using the…
