1997 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 121-130
The aged of the population is an issue that is common to all industrialized nations. In recent years, the Japanese population has aged rapidly and by the year 2020, it is reported that Japan will become an ultra-aged society in which one fourth of the population will be aged 65 or above. As a response to this trend of an aging society, various measures in city planning and in the life environment are being progressed but to date, measures for access and the creation of facilities convenient for the disabled persons have not been adopted relevant the waterfront.
In this study, questionnaire surveys were conducted to elicit information concerning the interface of the aged and the disabled persons with waterfronts , current status of achievement of barrier-free coastal recreational facilities by local authorities and on measures towards the creation of such barrier-free facilities and field surveys of beaches and mariners which constitute coastal recreational facilities were conducted.
As a result, comprehensive understanding of the interface between waterfronts and the aged and the disabled as well as the status and future of barrier-free facilities was attained.
