Transport for London (TfL) has announced plans to enhance the visibility of priority seats on buses and the Underground in London.
The transport agency has revamped the seating areas to feature increased color contrast, prominently displaying signs that read “This is a priority seat.”
These changes will be implemented in new DLR and Piccadilly trains, as well as in refurbished Central and Waterloo & City line trains.
Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, is encouraging Londoners to give up their seats to “those who may need it more than they do.”
TfL has noted that some passengers requiring a seat may not always be wearing a “please offer me a seat” badge or a Sunflower lanyard.
The updated seat design will resemble the “please offer me a seat” badges and the Government’s Blue Badge scheme, aligning with the existing priority seating aesthetics found on the Jubilee line.
Allison Peter, deputy chair of TfL’s independent Disability Advisory Group, emphasized, “Priority seats are crucial for many individuals with disabilities, including those with invisible conditions, as well as for elderly people. They are essential for allowing individuals to travel confidently and maintain connections throughout London.
“By being attentive, offering our seats, and considering those with invisible disabilities, we can contribute to making public transportation more inclusive and accessible.”
Prior research conducted by TfL explored the likelihood of individuals obtaining a priority seat when needed.
The findings indicated that although many who required a seat were able to secure one, it was not always obvious when someone qualified for a priority seat, and individuals often did not notice when another passenger needed assistance.
Since 2017, more than 152,000 free “please offer me a seat” badges have been distributed.
These badges are available for individuals with a wide array of disabilities and conditions, including chronic pain, respiratory issues, diabetes, learning disabilities, autism, various forms of neurodivergence, and mental health challenges.
