Buses are an essential part of daily life. In Osaka, the “On-Demand Bus” service expanded its area on March 26th, becoming available throughout the entire city. On-Demand Buses are a type of shared bus service where you can reserve a time and place via an app and use it for a fare similar to that of a regular bus.
In recent years, due to driver shortages and declining ridership, there have been a series of bus route closures and service reductions nationwide, and as the future of buses is being re-evaluated, On-Demand Buses are expected to be a new means of transportation that can cope with the declining and aging population. Based on an interview with Professor Itsuki Yoshida of Fukushima University, an expert in public transportation policy, announcer Haruka Maeda will explain. (From “Maeharu Presentation” on MBS TV’s “Yon-Chan TV,” broadcast on March 26, 2026)
