New priority seat signage is to be piloted on the Docklands Light Railway as part of Transport for London’s Priority Seating Week. This is a dedicated week of action to raise awareness of priority seats across the public transport network and comes alongside a competition for school children to bring it to life with creative artwork.
Priority seating is provided on public transport to help customers, including those with non-visible conditions, parents with infants as well as older people to travel more safely and comfortably. There are designated priority seats in every train and tram carriage and on buses across the TfL network. They are normally found close to doors and are clearly signposted.
Recent research has shown that passengers on the Docklands Light Railway were unaware of priority seating which is not visually distinctive from other seating. To try and solve this issue new signage on the DLR will be trialled in order to highlight priority seat locations.
The Priority Seating Week will also see a competition launched for children aged six to 14 where they can submit photographs of an artwork they have created depicting why its important for people to offer seats to people who need them. Entries must be received by 17th November and they will then be reviewed by TfL’s independent Disability Advisory Group with three winners seeing their artwork displayed on the transport network and will receive tickets for a family of four to a Merlin Entertainments attraction in London. Three runners-up will receive return tickets for a family of four for the IFS Cable Car.
Mark Evers, TfL’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “It is vital that we ensure that everyone can travel comfortably and safely, especially for those who might require more assistance. Travelling around London has been made easier for thousands of people thanks to our ‘Please offer me a seat’ and ‘Baby on board’ badges.
“We know from our research that there is still more we can do to make priority seats more visible and to encourage people to offer their seats to people who may need them. Our trial of new priority seating signage on the DLR, station engagement activity and art competition all aim to support this and inspire travellers to be kind and considerate to others.”