Badge Saying 'Please Offer Me a Seat' Now Available

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Scheme aims to make travel easier for those who find it difficult to stand

A new badge helping to make travelling easier for Londoners who find it difficult to stand is now available.

The blue Please Offer Me a Seat badge is available to disabled passengers and those with hidden conditions, illnesses and injuries, to help them find a seat on public transport.

The badge and card can be used on all TfL services – London Underground, London Overground, TfL Rail, London Buses Docklands Light Railway, Tramlink and River Services – as well as on station platforms or waiting areas.

The badge, and accompanying card have been created
following requests from customers who can struggle to get a seat as their need is not immediately obvious.

A six week trial with 1,200 people was held in autumn last year to test the new badge and card. More than 72% of journeys were found to be easier as a result of the badge, and 98% of people taking part in the trial said they would recommend it to somebody who needed it.

The free badge and card is now available through TFL's accessibility pages.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "These blue badges will make a real difference to passengers who need a seat but just haven’t felt confident enough to ask for one. I’ve no doubt they’ll soon become as recognisable across the capital as our popular Baby on Board badges."

James McNaught, who had previously developed a 'cancer on board' badge and later took part in the TfL trial, said: "This is a brilliant scheme and I am very glad that it is being introduced by the Mayor. The anxiousness of needing a seat but being unsure whether you will get one can rob people of the confidence to use public transport, and this simple initiative will make a huge difference to the lives of many people."

Alan Benson, Chair of Transport for All, said: "Transport for All is pleased to see the Please Offer me a Seat badge and card being rolled out. The feedback we received from members during the trial was that it made a real positive improvement to their journeys. We're also pleased to see TfL continuing to encourage consideration of travellers who need a seat but choose not to partake in this voluntary scheme."

April 29, 2017