An Empirical Study on Travel Difficulties of People with Disabilities and the Construction of Barrier‑Free Environments in the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area

Abstract

This study takes Shenzhen, a core city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as the research focus. Ten typical urban rail transit stations, including Shenzhen North Station and Buji Station, are selected. Using a combination of field surveys, questionnaire surveys, and in-depth interviews, the study systematically analyses the actual difficulties faced by people with disabilities and the elderly when using rail transit, and evaluates the effectiveness and shortcomings of barrier-free environment construction. The findings indicate that while some stations have made notable progress in hardware configuration and detailed design, several issues remain prominent during peak hours, including resource competition, blind path occupation, route discontinuities, insufficient wayfinding information, and psychological pressure. The paper proposes comprehensive recommendations covering the improvement of barrier-free facilities, optimisation of information guidance, strengthening of emergency support, and enhancement of social acceptance, providing empirical references for building an age-friendly and inclusive rail transit environment in the Greater Bay Area.