Urban development focusing on mobility for elderly and disabled people has been progressing rapidly since November in 2000 when the law to improve the environment where elderly and disabled people could move smoothly went into effect. As a result, such persons visiting central urban areas where main stations are located have increased. However, as there are many illegally parked bicycles on footpaths in front of stations, such areas are not satisfactory with regard to safety and amenity space for all pedestrians. As the bicycles are often left on the tactile tiles, or guiding blocks, in this study, the influence of illegally parked bicycles on the pedestrian footpath is analyzed from the position of the visually impaired. At first, an interview for the visually impaired was carried out in order to explain characteristics of the visually impaired in walking and find the condition in safe walking. Next, an investigation for the condition of illegally parked bicycles was carried out in order to understand the actual condition of illegally parked bicycles in front of JR Tokushima station. Third, a questionnaire for bicycle users was carried out in order to understand the background reasons of illegally parked bicycles. As a result, even though the guiding blocks are built, it is not enough for the visually impaired to walk safely because of the existence of illegally parked bicycles. Finally, the subjects considered in order to improve the present conditions are described.

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Many sidewalks in Japan have large slope and step differences. These features seriously affect pedestrians' safety, comfort and ease of movement, particularly old and physically handicapped people. Recently, barrier-free sidewalks have become important in establishing safe and comfortable urban environments. Longitudinal profiles of sidewalks in the center of Sapporo City measured with handy profilers have enabled highly accurate profile definition of sidewalks and barrier-free conditions in this study. Furthermore, by incorporating obtained profile data into the GIS, a database for sidewalk barrier-free status has been constructed. Stored numerical data have enabled conditional data search by slope and step difference using the GIS.

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