Tokyo subway car provides child-friendly space

Pretty cool!

Good idea. People can be very anti-child/stroller on the train, so providing a space specifically for them provides a space that they are clearly welcome in.

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Ironically, I'll bet that the only people to complain about this idea will be the same ones that would complain about having to be around children on the train...

This is a great move. It won't stop the nasty middle-aged men from being upset, but it will hopefully encourage more people to take the trains with children and strollers.

One of the most shocking signs I've seen is on the Fukutoshin Line. "Strollers can be used on the platform and train at your own risk." It's a stroller, not bungee jumping.

I often seen terrified kids caught in the peak hour crush. I don't think these train cars will solve that problem though.

extanker - Ironically, I'll bet that the only people to complain about this idea will be the same ones that would complain about having to be around children on the train...

Perhaps those people were the inspiration to create these train cars. Perhaps the main idea behind these train cars is to separate kids from the masses of complaining narcissists.

Finally, an idea that actually makes sense. Great to see some positive news. Hope they do this on other train lines as well.

Amazing idea! Lets hope this is expanded to one child carriage to each commuter train. If even tiny changes like this are made, to make Tokyo child-friendly, we will hopefully see a boost in children numbers in coming years.

By the way, I have seen an "Anpan-man" child-carriage also a few years ago.

Ganbare Japan, i would love to see that. Even this thomas carriage, would keep my 2 yr old entertained. Almost worth making a trip on this train line to see it!

In terms of specifics, this is some stickers on the wall and some luggage space for strollers, isnt it?

That might sound belittling, but isn't the key feature the luggage space? Isn't there a lack of that for everyone, not just parents with strollers? Could you use this "child-friendly" space to put your father's Zimmer frame? You and your child's rucksacks when you go hiking? Dare I say it, your suitcase when you are going on holiday? Grumpy commuters will see lots of people as meiwaku, not just young children.

it's not the trains that are the problem, it's people's attitude to kids, parents and pregnant women on trains that is the problem. believe me, if these child-friendly trains run during morning rush hour, the only people who will be occupying these spaces are inconsiderate people of all ages. I mean come on, most people don't even give up their seats to pregnant women. i see idiots of all ages and sexes occupy those seats when a pregnant woman is standing right in front of them. if i had a yen for every time i had to control myself from punching these people i'd be a millionaire by now.

This space sends a message that it's okay to be accompanied by children,

Hate to be a party pooper, but I disagree and think that this sends the opposite message, making families unwelcome on regular trains. I also wonder if this is going to become a play car and kids won’t learn how to act on public transport.

Regardless, I still do think it’s a good idea. If you’ve ever rode a very busy train with little kids, you’d know it’s scary!!!!

we will hopefully see a boost in children numbers in coming years.

Yes, I can honestly see couples who are based in the nation’s capital starting to plan to have increased numbers of offspring based on the introduction of one kiddy-themed subway car.

/s

I hate to be the party pooper here, but there are more effective ways of making trains child friendly than a few stickers. How about:

1) Buggy stowage areas next to the doors.

2) Hand holds at a child friendly height.

3) Single seat - Space for buggy - single seat - space . . . etc along one side. Or even a line of fold down seats for this purpose.

4) A leaning seat with a shelf behind. Lean on it and rest you back pack or baby carrier.

5) Markings on the platform indicating the closest entry point for the child freidly area on trains.

6) Parents rooms in the station with small kids toilets. (Men and Women can go their to change their children and not just part of the normal toilets).

This is a great idea. Having a young child myself, I sometimes get that grumpy vibe from some of the passengers when getting in the train

Segregation does not make a society friendly. It simply shows how intolerant it is.

Don't want to prosecute men who sexually assult female passengers? Give 'THE GIRLS' a car. You find children annoying? Give'em a car. Who's next?

Apart from the stickers, what exactly makes this space more child friendly?

No mention of barrier free access, extra space for buggies and strollers, seats designed for children, .....

Don't want to prosecute men who sexually assult female passengers? Give 'THE GIRLS' a car.

What are you talking about? They prosecute gropers in Japan. They also have female-only cars. How is a two-pronged approach a problem?

Apart from the stickers, what exactly makes this space more child friendly?

The words that say it's a child-friendly space.

You know, how all designated areas everywhere designate what the area is for.

Like a couple others WHAT exactly is on offer here....

What does  childcare support spaces"  mean exactly...

Are these cars Only for people pushing strollers...….article doesn't say, sounds like anyone can enter, if that's true it wont offer much respite from the hells of Tokyo train riding.

So other than stickers & decoration what else is there, hopefully this initiative with have some substance instead of the usual "perceptions" of zero substance

While I like the idea of child commuter cars on trains, it still worries me as a father because I see many safety hazards in that car.

Those themed cars might make children want to wander around the train car which means they become more prone to injuries during sudden stops. Especially when you have some parents that just sit smiling and watch as their children perform dangerous stunts. I thought the idea of priority seating worked fine as long as it’s respected. Sudden stops and rocking cars make me worried about my children in those spaces.

Right now, my daughter is just mesmerized looking out the window. I don’t want her developing ideas to want to play on a train.

In my experience people are usually friendly and considered towards kids and strollers in train but there is simply not enough room. More designated areas for strollers/wheelchairs would help.

Funny, the solutions that arise when children are barley tolerated. I suggest a visit to places that like thier kids and see how they do things. Taipei has a wonderful train and subway system that is tourist, elderly, female, male, family, children, human friendly. Friendly, simple word that says it all.

This is a nice idea. My three-year-old isn’t a big fan of riding the train. But at the very least this carriage would give her familiar decorations to look at and talk about, and the journey would be much more pleasant for all of us. Hopefully other trains add similar carriages.

Badlishah Halimi,

I’m not sure which countries and cities you’ve been to with your kid(s), but I find Tokyo to be fairly kid-friendly. Yes, trains can be crowded at times. Yes, some of the older subway stations have no elevators for strollers. But I’ve never had trouble finding changing/feeding areas, restaurants are kid-friendly, there are parks and small playgrounds everywhere, and there’s so much to do with kids I feel spoilt for choice. Also, you’re never far from a convenience store, where you can buy essential items like wipes, diapers (sometimes), milk, etc. And most importantly, it’s clean and safe.

Get the young ones ready for when they enter the work force and trainit everyday to work.

If they are going to add these extra cars for kids/strollers, they should make it mandatory. If mothers with baby/strollers don't want to ride in the cars, they are eating up normal riders space, and the normal riders aren't allowed in the stroller cars.

I'm still waiting for the fight club car. BTW, how are they going to enforce this? The same way they don't say anything when men ride the sexist "women only" cars?

Let the social police enforce it, same as a car full of only women should tell the lone guy to get out when it's clearly marked as women-only at those specific hours, but then open it up after 9am. Should be the same for the strollers, too. Otherwise, just segregate everyone. Japanese women-only. Japanese men-only. Foreigners-only.