Please Offer me a Seat

Transport for London (TFL) is trialling a new badge, specifically for people with invisible illnesses.

Would you like to see this badge available for use on public transport across Britain?

If you’re interested in taking part in the trial, you can get in touch with the research agency 2CV, who are working with TFL on the trial, at tfltrial@2cv.com

SO: I don’t live in London, and I don’t (cannot) use public transport.

BUT, it seems to me that the success of something like this will rest on public awareness of the badge and what it means.
Right now it looks like something I could knock up in 15 minutes in Powerpoint or another drawing program.
What it does not have is any air of officialdom, or anything that would prevent it being copied.

If it was to be handed out by (say) an MS Nurse, and carried a hologram anti-copy device, and was widely publicised - then it might work.

Geoff

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My first impression when I saw the badge was that it would be a badge worn by someone with a severe speech impairment or one worn by someone with severe learning difficulties.

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Hi Geoff,

I think the notion of officialdom or lack of in this case does not necessarily mean that the badge would not be an effective aid, the similarly designed ‘baby on board’ badges went on a similar trial basis and now reflect this.

I think it’s more about decency in a general sense - I’m sure that someone will not always be offered a seat but I like to think that if someone was wearing a badge with this message regardless of its design, they wouldn’t question its authenticity, but simply be aware to offer their seat.

Hopefully feedback and response from the trials will be positive, leading to a nice launch campaign for public awareness to boot.

Oliver

Even if I lived in London or were a public transport user (I am neither), I wouldn’t be seen dead wearing a badge like that. And I’m a middle aged woman who’s also a wheelchair user, not exactly a style warrior.

Sue

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Transport for London have had “Baby on Board” badges for pregnant women for a long time - they are obviously not official documents with statutory rights attached but they do appear to give a bit of a “nudge towards politeness” for other passengers and they seem to help a bit. I use crutches and have obvious walking problems and, on the very rare occassions I go to London now, I have actually found passengers on the Tube very polite. Would NEVER attempt it in rush hour though.

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Thanks, Sue.

But for non-wheelchair users and in peak commuting times, regardless of style, it could be of benefit - I understand that it might not be for everyone but for example, Tasha, who admits at first being self-conscious of wearing the badge but the experience itself outweighed this, you can be read Tasha’s experience wearing the badge here: http://mssoc.uk/2foRs1x

Oliver

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I think ‘nudge towards politeness’ is a good way of putting it, Boblatina.

Oliver

I think it’s worth a try…if it helps just a few people then it’s a positive!

Pollx

I think it’s worth a try…if it helps just a few people then it’s a positive!

Pollx

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I’m a daily commuter and think it’s a great idea. I’m newly diagnosed and lucky enough to be currently well and healthy, by the episode which lead to my diagnosis was numb toes/ feet. Not painful but not comfortable to stand for long periods on either - and not great for balance. I found myself having to get an earlier train to be able to get a seat as a result. A badge like this would have been great - and given me the courage to request a seat.

i have no issues with it style wise - it’s much like the baby on board badges you see all the time. People will recognise it, and its legitimacy, as such.

However, I do imagine the wearer of the badge may need to explain it is for MS/ an invisible disability as there is no nod to this from the face of the badge (whereas baby on board is obvious)

k

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I think it is a great idea. Anything g that might help must be trialled I think. I would wear one if I travelled in London, which I do not.

Good idea. I suppose the risk is that people might be even less willing to oblige a person who had an invisible illness but who did not happen to be wearing a badge! But there’s no use thinking of drawbacks before having tested out the advantages in practice, so I am all in favour of giving this promising idea a good go.

It seems to me that it would be particularly useful to young people; they are assumed to be in the pink of health by everyone else and will tend to hesitate most when asking strangers - often people older than they are - to give up a seat to help an apparently able-bodied youngster.

Alison

Its well DIRE. I agree with Geoff a child could design better. What does it ask. PLEASE OFFER ME A seat. What to sit down or buy. Its got no authority, why should someone offer them a seat unless they are visibly showing a disability which is clearly not the aim.

If there was decency in this world there would be no need to display a badge which well says nothing really. ALSO for me this could target the weak and vulnerable, as its like a signpost on their chest, I am in need of help, so weak.

Wouldnt it be better to show it is about illness? Maybe some how use the disabled shape incorporate it into the badge?

Sorry you ask for opinions and that is the point of the exercise then i think this is a horrible idea unless its made more clearly why.

Getting young people to wear it, sorry Alsion my grandson is bullied constantly on the bus for being a bit overweight. There isnt sadly a lot of decency left in this world.

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A mixed bag of views on this!

I say bring it out to those who are happy/willing to try it. I would, but I dont use public transport and always have a seat with me anyway! It`s my wheelie!

pollx

I showed it to my husband, he said the same as me it should indicate a disability otherwise people will just ignore it.

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I loath both nudge and identity politics. So NO thanks.

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Poor chap - I am sorry. I assume he is a school-boy, CC? Anyone who has had bad times at school - me included for sure - will wince at the memory of how horrid schoolchildren can be to peers who look and/or act a bit differently, and how very badly that hurts.

Alison

Whatever happened to privacy?

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It implies helplessness and vulnerability. Not keen on it!

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