Aging-Friendly Renovation of Subway Stations: Current Situation—Challenges—Development

With the global population aging, urban public transportation systems, particularly subway stations, face significant challenges. This paper outlines the basic concepts of age-friendly design for subway stations, analyzes the behavioral characteristics of elderly passengers, and examines their specific needs regarding barrier-free facilities, information signage systems, and station environments. The paper then reviews recent research advancements, including adaptations of facilities for elderly use, integration of smart technologies, and the development of assessment frameworks tailored to age-friendly criteria. Finally, it identifies key challenges in age-friendly renovations, such as insufficient user research, inadequate data analysis, incomplete evaluation systems, a single-scheme verification mechanism and uneven overall development. The paper also outlines future directions in enhancing intelligent systems and evaluation frameworks to better accommodate the needs of elderly passengers and improve their overall travel experience.