Nottingham’s tram network is backing the recently launched ‘Please offer me a seat’ badge campaign in partnership with Nottingham City Council and NCT.
The Council is working in partnership with both NCT and NET to offer two different badges to public transport users, with one badge saying, ‘please offer me a seat’ and another that says, ‘happy to move for you.’
The concept was thought up by a member of the Disability Involvement Group, who work in partnership with the local authority, after witnessing the success of a similar scheme in London.
The badges have been created to help improve awareness of hidden disabilities and aim to encourage public transport users to offer their seats up to people who may need it more than they do.
Rebekah Smith, NET Marketing Manager, explained: “Many disabled people have experienced an unwillingness from some of their fellow passengers to offer them a seat, despite being in visible pain and discomfort.
“Whilst this may be in part due to naivety or ignorance, some have even experienced hostility on public transport. “With the introduction of these badges, disabled people can gain confidence through knowing that other users are more than happy to move for them.”
The ‘happy to move for you’ badges will break down the existing barriers for disabled people as they will know who is happy to be approached and avoid any potential confrontation.
The badges are available from NET’s Travel Centre in King Street, NCT’s Travel Centre on South Parade and the Victoria Travel Centre at Victoria Bus Station.