Accessibility Design Strategies and Practices for Metro Stations under the Needs of Diverse Populations

1. Navigation and information system for the visually impaired. The visually impaired refer to people whose vision is severely impaired or lost due to various reasons, including people with low vision and the blind. The barrier-free needs of this group of people for the subway are mainly concentrated in the following three aspects.

(I) Blind path system. Blind paths are fixed-shaped floor tiles laid on the sidewalk or other places, which enable the visually impaired to have the touch and feel of a cane, and guide the visually impaired to walk forward and identify the direction to reach the destination. Since the opening of China's first subway, Beijing Subway Line 1, the application of blind paths in subway construction and operation has become increasingly mature, but there are still many problems in daily use.

① Blind path continuity problem. In some subway stations or around them, the blind paths may be discontinuous or occupied, making it difficult for the visually impaired to accurately identify the route and direction. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the construction and maintenance of blind paths to ensure their continuity and integrity.

② Unreasonable design of blind paths. Some blind path designs may have unreasonable aspects, such as too small turning radius, too steep slope, too close distance between the blind path and obstacles, etc., which may bring safety hazards to the visually impaired. Therefore, it is necessary to scientifically and rationally plan and optimize the design of the blind path.

(II) Sound prompts When taking the subway, the visually impaired can better understand the surrounding environment through sound prompts to ensure safe travel. There are many excellent application cases of subway guidance sound: the guidance sound system of Beijing Subway adopts bilingual services in Chinese and English, and provides rich and diverse information content. In addition to the name of the next station, transfer information, exit instructions and safety tips, it also provides station facilities introduction, surrounding scenic spots recommendation, etc. However, there are still many shortcomings in the actual application of guidance sound. For example: in a noisy environment, the difficulty of voice recognition of guidance sound may increase, resulting in the inability of visually impaired people to accurately obtain information. If the guidance sound system provides too much information, the visually impaired may not be able to quickly understand and process all the information due to information overload. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the voice quality. First, the guidance sound should use clear, natural, and moderate voice to avoid noise and noise, so as to ensure that the visually impaired can clearly hear the guidance sound information. Secondly, optimize the information content. The information content of the guidance sound should be concise and clear, and avoid lengthy and complex sentences. Finally, targeted information should be provided according to different stations and situations. For example, transfer instructions can be provided at transfer stations, and reminders to get off the train can be provided at terminal stations.

(III) Accessible information equipment Accessible information equipment includes the following five types. ① Visual information display screen. A large display screen is set up in the subway station to display train arrival time, route map, transfer information, etc. It can also provide text and image information for the visually impaired to view through a magnifying glass or electronic visual aid. ② Touch-screen information inquiry machine. A touch-screen information inquiry machine is set up in the subway station to provide text, voice and graphic information inquiry functions, so that all passengers can obtain relevant information and services. ③ Braille guide signs. Provide Braille information to help the visually impaired understand the structure, route and signs of the subway station. ④ Mobile phone applications. Develop special mobile phone applications to provide real-time subway information inquiry, navigation services and travel guides, including the location, usage and precautions of barrier-free facilities. ⑤ Guide sticks. Guide sticks are portable barrier-free navigation tools that can help the visually impaired perceive the surrounding environment and guide them to travel and ride the subway safely. The above are common subway barrier-free information equipment. The subway systems of different cities can be configured and optimized accordingly according to local actual needs and standards.

2. Barrier-free streamline design for people with limited mobility People with limited mobility refer to those who face difficulties in moving, taking care of themselves or participating in regular activities in their daily lives due to illness, disability or other reasons. This group of people may need to use assistive devices such as crutches, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. or appropriately modify the environment to help them complete their daily activities. The barrier-free needs of this group of people for subways are mainly concentrated in the following three aspects.

(I) Barrier-free passages and barrier-free elevators The requirements of barrier-free passages and barrier-free elevators for subways by people with limited mobility mainly include the following eight aspects. ① Moderate width. The width of barrier-free passages and barrier-free elevators should be moderate to facilitate the passage of wheelchairs or people with limited mobility. Generally speaking, the width of barrier-free passages should be more than 1.5 m, and the width of barrier-free elevator cars should be more than 1.4 m so that wheelchairs can enter and exit smoothly. ② Flat ground. The floor of barrier-free passages should be flat, without obvious bumps or obstacles, to ensure smooth passage for wheelchairs or people with limited mobility. ③ Set up handrails. Barrier-free passages and barrier-free elevators should be equipped with firm and reliable handrails so that people with limited mobility can stably support their bodies. Handrails should be set on both sides of the passage or elevator and extend to both ends. ④ Gentle slope. For barrier-free passages, the slope should be gentle so that wheelchairs or people with limited mobility can easily go up and down. ⑤ Elevator button height is appropriate. The button height of barrier-free elevators should be moderate, which is convenient for people with limited mobility to press. Generally speaking, the height of the button should be between 0.9 and 1.5 m. ⑥ Emergency call function. Barrier-free elevators should have an emergency call function so that people with limited mobility can seek help in time when encountering an emergency. ⑦ Smooth operation. Barrier-free elevators should be stable during operation without obvious shaking or bumping to ensure the safety of people with limited mobility. ⑧ Clear signs. Barrier-free passages and barrier-free elevators should be clearly marked so that people with limited mobility can quickly identify them. The signs should include information such as directions and destinations, and form a sharp contrast.

(II) Accessible waiting areas and accessible carriages Considering the special needs of people with limited mobility during the waiting process, barrier-free waiting areas can be set up on the platform. This area is usually located at one end or the middle of the platform, which is convenient for wheelchair passengers to pass through and is equipped with clear signs and guidance systems. Accessible waiting areas can provide auxiliary facilities, such as folding wheelchairs, call buttons, etc., for the convenience of people with limited mobility. Special height-adjustable and rotatable seats are set up in the waiting area for the convenience of people with limited mobility. Considering the special needs of people with limited mobility during the ride, subway trains are also specially designed, namely barrier-free carriages. There are special wheelchair parking areas and seat belts in barrier-free carriages, and a certain number of wheelchair holders are equipped. People in wheelchairs can fix the position of the wheelchair to avoid the wheelchair sliding due to the movement of the train, which may cause safety hazards.

(III) Ticket purchase needs To meet the ticket purchase needs of people with limited mobility, low-level automatic ticket machines and ticket windows can be added. III. Information transmission for hearing-impaired people Hearing-impaired people refer to people who have a certain degree of hearing damage or complete hearing loss. Hearing-impaired people have some special needs when taking the subway, and these needs should be met as much as possible to ensure that they can take the subway safely and conveniently. The specific needs are reflected in the following three aspects.

(I) Visual signals In key areas, such as entrances and exits, transfer passages, etc., obvious visual signals are set up, such as flashing lights or large screen displays, to provide real-time arrival, transfer and temporary announcement information. At the same time, the guide signs in the station should be eye-catching and easy to identify, such as ground arrow signs, Braille tactile maps, etc., and the internal layout of the station should be optimized to avoid excessive echoes or reverberations that interfere with the hearing-impaired.

(II) Vibration prompts and device compatibility Vibration devices are set up on seats or the ground. When there are important announcements or reminders, the information is conveyed to the hearing-impaired through vibration. At the same time, it should be ensured that the various sound prompt systems of the subway system are compatible with hearing aids and other hearing-assistive devices to reduce noise interference and improve the quality of sound transmission.

(III) Gestures and symbols Staff should strengthen sign language training so that they can communicate with hearing-impaired people when necessary to ensure that they can obtain the information and help they need. In addition, when operating conditions permit, special consultation service windows or hotlines should be provided, with staff who understand sign language or are proficient in text communication. The above measures are aimed at improving the convenience and safety of hearing-impaired people taking the subway and enabling them to better integrate into social life. IV. Special needs of children and pregnant women Children and pregnant women also have some special needs when taking the subway, and their specific needs are reflected in the following three aspects.

(I) Safety protection Children and pregnant women must be kept safe when taking the subway, so safety protection measures are essential. Some cities provide pregnant women with good pregnancy badges or other identifiers to facilitate other passengers to identify and help them, and the customer service center also provides convenient information consultation and emergency assistance services. For example, when pregnant women feel unwell, they can get professional guidance in time or be arranged to leave the station quickly. Safety devices should be installed in key areas of the station, such as the edge of the platform, to prevent children and pregnant women from being injured due to carelessness. Lockable baby stroller parking spaces can also be added in barrier-free waiting areas to fix baby strollers to prevent them from tipping over. At the same time, it can also prevent children from being injured due to crowding during peak hours.

(II) Infant and baby rooms should provide a good private space and breastfeeding environment to facilitate the travel of pregnant and baby women. According to the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Maternal and Baby Facilities , public places such as transportation hubs, commercial centers, hospitals, tourist attractions, and sightseeing and entertainment, where mothers and babies often stay and the building area exceeds 10,000 square meters or the daily passenger flow exceeds 10,000 people, should establish independent infant and baby rooms with a usable area of ​​generally not less than 10 square meters and be equipped with basic facilities. In most cities, subway transfer stations and important stations have infant and baby rooms, but due to construction sequence issues, many cities' old lines cannot meet the requirements for the establishment of infant and baby rooms. To meet this requirement, the foldable micro-mother and baby room provides a new solution. It can meet basic nursing needs without taking up too much space. It can be installed on only one wall. The diaper changing table and nursing chair can be designed to be foldable. When not in use, they can be folded on the wall. When in use, they can be opened to form a relatively private space. At present, micro-mother and baby room products have been launched. The triangular room in the public area of ​​the station platform can be used as a remodeled space for foldable micro-mother and baby rooms, which will greatly enhance the travel happiness of pregnant women. In this regard, a typical example is the "mother and baby room design full of human care" designed by Liu Xiaowei of Jiangnan University.

(III) Children's navigation uses various technical means to simplify the complex subway routes and station structures, providing children with more intuitive, easy-to-understand and interesting guidance services. By setting up interesting signs and navigation systems, children's awareness and adaptability to public transportation can be improved in an entertaining way. V. Conclusion The diverse needs of the population require the design of subway stations to be more detailed and humane. Research on the accessibility needs of the visually impaired, those with limited mobility, those with hearing impairments, as well as children and pregnant women can provide them with a more convenient and safer travel environment and achieve truly barrier-free transportation.