Badges for Transit Riders with Non-Visible Impairments

Transport for London is experimenting with badges that say "Please offer me a seat" for people who wouldn't necessarily be offered seats.

1 minute read

May 1, 2017, 11:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Handicapped Seating

Tony Webster / Flickr

Transport for London (TfL) has given out 12,000 blue buttons (or badges as they're called in the UK) to transit riders, which read "Please offer me a seat." The idea is to make transit easier for those for whom public transit, and in particular standing on buses or trains, is taxing.

"The scheme was created, TfL said, in response to comments from its customers who struggled to get a seat because their need was not obvious," The BBC reports.  One example of badge recipient is James McNaught who is not able to speak because of chemotherapy treatments on his throat. The plan enjoys the support of Saddiq Kahn, the city's mayor.

Friday, April 28, 2017 in BBC

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

45 minutes ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

1 hour ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

2 hours ago - ASLA The Dirt