London Tube to introduce 'Please offer me a seat' badges for people with disability.
Transport for London is looking for 1,000 volunteers to take part in a six-week trial of a new blue badge for commuters .
Similar to the ‘Baby on Board’ badges used by pregnant women, the new blue badges are intended to be worn by disabled passengers and those with hidden conditions, illnesses and injuries to alert fellow passengers of their need for a seat.
The trial is due to begin on Monday 12 September. If successful, the badges will be made more widely available later this year.
“Many of our customers, particularly disabled people and people with hidden conditions, tell us they struggle to get a seat when they need one,” says TfL. “We have developed a badge and card that we hope will help.
“The trial will help us understand if the badge or card can help people access a seat, and understand the reactions of other customers.”
James McNaught, a Londoner who created his own ‘Cancer on board’ badge while receiving cancer treatment, said: “I'm really pleased TfL is doing this trial. A badge and card could help make a real difference to the lives of people undergoing drug treatment or with longer term conditions or disabilities.
“Getting a seat on transport when you need it can sometimes be really tricky, especially if the reason you need to sit down isn't obvious to others. When I was undergoing radiotherapy for throat cancer, it meant I couldn't talk to ask for a seat and the morphine I was taking made me appear drunk. It was a real struggle to get people to understand why I needed to sit down.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “We hope that these new blue badges can make a real difference to those who find it difficult to get a seat when they need one, particularly those with hidden disabilities.
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