TFL Introducing New ‘Baby On Board’ Style Badges For People With Invisible Illnesses

[Photo: Flickr/Sergio Somavilla]

Knowing whether to offer someone your seat on the Tube can be way more complicated than it should, because while sometimes it’s obvious if someone’s unable to stand, other times you wouldn’t have a clue.

If you’re disabled, for example, this doesn’t always mean that your condition is visible, and as a result those with hidden conditions, illnesses and injuries often have to make their journeys seatless.

This is why Transport for London (TfL) are trialling new ‘badge cards’ to make other passengers aware of those unable to stand.

The ‘please offer me a seat’ badge will work in the same way as a ‘baby on board’ badge, by alerting other passengers to their need to sit down (without the awkward asking bit).

For now, TfL is recruiting 1,000 people to take part in the European-first six-week trial to assess how successful it is for passengers to use as well as the reactions of others.

Those trialling it will also be given a card that can be shown to TfL staff.

It’s a big move by TfL, and is in response to passenger feedback which found that people with hidden disabilities and conditions (or those undergoing treatments) can find it difficult to get a seat when they need one.

TfL’s existing ‘Baby on Board’ badge [Photo: Copyright Transport for London]

If it’s a success, the badge will be made available more widely later this year, and customers will be able to request them from TfL in a similar way to requesting a Baby on Board badge.

The trial officially starts on Monday 12 September, so expect to see these popping up soon.

What do you think of TfL’s new scheme? Tweet us at @YahooStyleUK.

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