Last year TfL held a Priority Seating Week, a chance to remind passengers the importance of giving their seat up to those who might need it more. 2018's campaign was so successful that TfL has brought it back, this time with a special surprise.
This Priority Seating Week comes with the official unveiling of new priority seating moquette on the Jubilee line. The seats stand out in grey, with a big blue message reminding people very clearly that this is a seat for those who have accessibility issues. Some Jubilee trains already have the messages, and the rest will be completed by the end of this summer.
Here's a full list of the messages on the seats:
- Please offer this seat
- Be prepared to offer this seat
- Not all disabilities are visible
- Someone may need this seat more
- This is a priority seat
- Please give up this seat
To accompany the campaign, TfL has done a survey of its passengers, to find out how people feel about offering their seats. The results are startling — about a third of passengers feel they only need to offer their seat to others if it's a priority seat.
Another part of Priority Seating Week is to remind customers of the 'Please offer me a seat' badges, which help customers with invisible disabilities get seats. Over 44,000 badges have been issued and TfL doesn't ask for medical history for those applying.
Alan Benson, Chair of Transport for All, said:
For many people having a seat when travelling can make the difference between being able to travel, to work, to socialise or being stuck at home. This is particularly true for those with invisible disabilities who may have pain or issues that are not obvious. The simple act of giving a seat to someone who needs it, someone who may or may not be wearing the 'Please Offer Me a Seat' badge, can make a huge difference to their day. At Transport for All we're proud to support the efforts of TfL and Priority Seating Week.
