(4 September 2019, Tokyo) – Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone), the world’s largest tyre and rubber manufacturer and the Official Tyre Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, today announced that its extensive tyre and material expertise has helped produce a new solution that will deliver barrier-less bus access in the newly-constructed athlete village for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Leveraging its knowledge of commercial bus tyres and rubber, Bridgestone is working with a collaborative group in Japan to develop a new curbstone design that allows buses to pull closer to the curb. The design of the curb includes a specially-engineered slope that more smoothly interacts with the shape of the tyre to decrease tyre sidewall wear and vibration. It can also be customised to fit common tyre and vehicle sizes that use a specific curb location. The result is a significantly smaller gap between the curb and bus entrance, which provides easier and safer on-and-off access for passengers – especially wheelchair users, people with strollers, and senior citizens.
The new barrier-less docking system was first introduced in Okayama, Japan in June 2019 and is now being adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The first installation in Tokyo will be completed in February 2020 in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Village. The installation will include nearly 395 meters of curb designed to accommodate a wide variety of tyre and vehicle sizes. Bridgestone continues to work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other metro areas to identify future locations for the new solution that will benefit people across Japan beyond Tokyo 2020.
“Bridgestone was founded on a mission of serving society, and we bring that to life every day through our efforts to improve how people move, live, work and play,” said Masaaki Tsuya, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Executive Officer, Bridgestone Corporation. “We have some of the world’s top experts in tyre and rubber science committed to solving the evolving needs and challenges of a world in constant motion. Through projects like this, we’re focused on leveraging our vast knowledge to help create advanced solutions that remove barriers and increase accessibility for all people -- in public bus transportation and beyond.”
Bridgestone does not manufacture nor sell the product, but has been responsible for its primary design, testing and verification as part of a collaboration with Yokohama National University, the Japan Transportation Planning Association, and Advance Co., Ltd.
About Bridgestone:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.
In Thailand, Bridgestone has managed to achieve sustainable growth and success through a great confidence from end-users, dealers, and automotive manufacturers since its production 50 years ago. Through our history, the company has shown a great determination to research, invent, and create excellent products that are suitable for domestic use. Additionally, together with well selected raw materials, state-of-the-art production facilities and machines, and highest standard of quality control, these enable Bridgestone to journey on the same path with corporate mission – “Serving Society with Superior Quality.”