#Japan #Kobe #Kobe City #Smart Life Pass #Dot to Dot

Kobe City Takes Action to Alleviate Traffic Congestion Using Urban OS

Kobe City is embracing technology to tackle one of its persistent issues: traffic congestion. In 2024, the city is set to implement innovative solutions through the Urban OS systems, utilizing platforms like the 'Smart Life Pass' and 'Dot to Dot'. The initiative is particularly aimed at mitigating the chronic traffic congestion found on Route 2, which is notorious for its bottlenecks.

Strategies to Mitigate Congestion

The plan includes a combination of digital solutions and physical infrastructure changes. Residents will be encouraged to shift their transportation habits to alleviate congestion by redistributing traffic across different time slots and promoting public transit use. Key partners like Gix, BIPROGY, Mitsui Fudosan, and UDCK Town Management are involved, focusing on making the shift seamless and effective.

Gix's platform, Mygru, will implement a digital stamp rally that incentivizes users to change their travel times or use public transportation. Participants can earn rewards for engaging in behaviors that help reduce congestion, such as commuting during off-peak hours. These rewards can be converted into points through their Smart Life Pass, which can further be exchanged at participating commercial facilities.

Implementation Details

The digital stamp rally targets local residents aged 18 and above. Participants need to register on the Smart Life Pass platform to join the 'Kobe GPS Stamp Rally', which runs from October 27 to December 25, 2025. Users checking in at various locations with incorporated GPS functions will receive incentives when they opt for public transportation or alter their travel times.

In addition to digital strategies, the city plans to implement physical measures. Through collaboration with Fujitsu, traffic data within Kobe will be analyzed to identify routes with high congestion potential. They aim to deploy shuttle bus services, enhancing the public transportation network, which is expected to ease the congestion along critical transit corridors.

A Model of Yuminess

The approaches Kobe is adopting can potentially serve as a model for cities across Japan. By focusing on both hard and soft measures, the project sets a precedent in becoming an early adopter of effective Urban OS solutions. UDCK Town Management is keen on expanding this initiative nationwide, exploring various applications of Urban OS in addressing social problems faced by urban populations.

Preemptive Research and Its Implications

Prior to launching these initiatives, a study was conducted from May 12 to July 11, 2025, among members of the Smart Life Pass community to evaluate whether incentive-based actions could indeed minimize congestion. The results indicated that providing participants basic incentives resulted in greater usage of public transport for commuting. More importantly, once this incentivization was established, even with reduced rewards, behavior continuation was observed, confirming the effectiveness of initial motivation in fostering long-term changes in commuting habits.

What Are Urban OS Systems?

The Urban OS systems, 'Smart Life Pass' and 'Dot to Dot', stem from a collaborative development in the Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, focusing on themes of health, industry creation, and environmental coexistence. The 'Smart Life Pass' serves as a portal for users to access various healthcare-related services while 'Dot to Dot' manages personal data transfers securely with the user's consent. This equitable approach not only emphasizes data privacy but also proposes a decentralized platform for data distribution among businesses.

The Role of Gix and Partner Organizations

Gix is set to provide its habit-forming platform, Mygru, which leverages gamification and data-fueled engagement to ensure consistent participation. BIPROGY and Mitsui Fudosan will provide the technical backbone with the Smart Life Pass and Dot to Dot systems, ensuring users can traverse efficiently through the myriad services offered.

In summary, Kobe City's initiative is not merely about reducing traffic; it embodies a holistic approach to urban living, promoting smarter transportation while developing robust community infrastructures. The hope is that by setting a tangible example of how technology can influence public behavior, other cities will be encouraged to adopt similar frameworks. Together, these organizations are committed to turning individual behavioral changes into sustainable urban improvement.