Powerful posters designed by London children encourage TfL customers to give up their seat for those who need it more

Powerful posters by young Londoners, encouraging people to give up their seats for those who need them more, are on display on the Transport for London (TfL) network from Tuesday 3 December to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Priority seats are available and clearly marked on all buses, Tubes, trains and trams on the TfL network, for anyone who needs them, including those with non-visible disabilities. A competition launched by TfL in September, during Priority Seating Week, invited children aged 6-14 to design a poster that raises awareness of these seats and encourages people to look up and offer their seat to someone who may need it more.

The impressive entries were judged by five members of TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG), a panel of 13 professional experts that helps TfL better understand the impact of its policies, projects and programmes on disabled customers. Winners Cecilia Lewis (age 8), Lily Watkins (age 11) and Ayaan Hoque (age 13) produced the winning designs and won family tickets to Merlin London attractions. The panel was impressed by Cecilia's eye-catching design that encourages kindness, Lily's informative poster about non-visible health conditions and Ayaan's wise words about how uplifting others makes us strong.

Runners-up Diani Dodia, Georgina Joseph and Ayah Abrahams, and highly commended Harrison Steele, Willow Bear and Sophia Croall, also impressed with their designs, and each won tickets for the IFS Cloud Cable Car or London Transport Museum. 

TfL will also be extending Access DLR, a six-month trial launched earlier this year to make travel on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) more accessible, until April, to gather more feedback. The Access DLR trial has enabled customers who need it to book assistance for when they travel, either over the phone or online.

Mark Evers, Transport for London's Chief Customer Officer, said: “We were extremely impressed by the thoughtfulness and creativity that shone through every poster design we received, and I know that our Independent Disability Advisory Group had a very hard time choosing just a few winners from the colourful and inspiring selection of entries! It was wonderful to see the children’s awareness of the diverse range of needs amongst us all and their clear reminder that looking up and offering someone a seat can make a huge difference to their journey – a great message for us all.”

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “Making London’s transport network as accessible as possible is a top priority for the Mayor. The artwork from these talented competition-winners will encourage Londoners to think of others and offer their seat to someone who may need it more than them. It’s also great news that the Access DLR trial is being extended until April to enable TfL to gather more feedback, as we work to build a fairer and more accessible London for everyone.”

IDAG member Sarah Rennie, said: “We were so impressed by the artwork entries. As disabled people ourselves, we were thrilled to see such powerful understanding of why priority seats are important and how not all disabilities are visible. What’s more, the posters were eye-catching, imaginative and full of artistic talent!”

A customer who uses Access DLR, said: “As I am a disabled wheelchair user the Access DLR team has helped me get on and off the train and I have built a positive relationship with the DLR and its staff.”

Another customer who uses Access DLR, said: “Access DLR has helped me and my friend, who is in a wheelchair. They help us with making sure we are both OK, have regular chats with us, they keep me and my friend calm, making us laugh. They always stay with me and my friend throughout the whole journey.”

Sunny Jouhal, Divisional Director for Merlin Entertainments’ UK Gateway attractions, said: “Merlin Entertainments is proud to have partnered with TfL on this competition and offering family tickets as prizes to our London attractions, the lastminute.com London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, the London Dungeon, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and Shrek’s Adventure! London.

“I want to send my congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to welcoming you to our attractions soon.

“Accessibility is a key priority for us at Merlin and we are committed to continue investing in facilities and training to make sure we create magical and memorable experiences for all our guests.”

The competition is part of TfL’s wider objective to make its network fairer and more accessible for everyone. In February, TfL launched Equity in Motion, an ambitious new customer plan that committed to more than 80 actions to ensure as many Londoners as possible can access and benefit from public transport. 

Since the release of the report, research has been carried out into priority seating requirements, which found that although many customers are offering their seat, it is not always clear when someone needs a priority seat, and people are not always paying attention to their surroundings to notice if there is someone in need of a seat. New signage is also being trialled on the DLR to highlight priority seats.

TfL has also completed a feasibility study of toilet provision across the network, with a shortlist of stations for new toilets in the first round of works. More than 130 mini ramps have been introduced at 64 step-free London Underground stations​, and the Bakerloo line ticket hall opened at Paddington station recently, with direct step-free access from street to platform.

Meanwhile a concession entitling care leavers to half-price bus and tram travel has been introduced and ​a new campaign is encouraging new people into cycling, including those from under-represented groups.