Transport for London is to consider making changes to the training it gives staff on how to help disabled passengers after concerns were raised by The Independent.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s office said TfL would seek feedback from disabled people after London Assembly members heard of problems being raised and demanded improvements.
It comes after Independent columnist James Moore wrote about his experience during a recent tube journey, during which the driver announced that “a mobility-impaired person” was the reason the train was being delayed.
Mr Moore said the experience was “humiliating” and that other passengers had “gawked at me as if I were some pregnant panda in a zoo”. He said he had not asked for any assistance getting off the train.
After writing about his ordeal in The Independent, Mr Moore was contacted by Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the Greater London Assembly (GLA).
Along with one of Mr Khan’s deputy mayors, Joanne McCartney, Mr Boff proposed a GLA motion urging the London mayor “to ensure TfL staff are trained to assist passengers with disabilities by: respecting the passenger’s wishes as to the level of help they require, not drawing unnecessary public attention to the passenger and by providing reasonable assistance to passengers to enable them to travel in the way that they choose”.
The motion was passed by the GLA on Thursday.
Afterwards, Mr Boff said: “It is sadly still the case that our city’s public transport network is simply not accessible enough for Londoners with disabilities. Disabled passengers should receive not only the assistance they need, but also the respect they deserve.
“Recent press reports of mobility impaired passengers being publicly identified as the reason behind train delays are very concerning. These instances only serve to make a stressful situation even more distressing for people with disabilities.
“It would clearly be beneficial for the mayor to ensure that TfL employees are aware of how to assist disabled passengers in a way which respects their wishes”.
The Mayor of London’s office said TfL would be seeking to discuss the issue with Mr Moore to find out how it could make improvements to its training programme.
A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “TfL are committed to delivering an excellent service for all their passengers so it’s essential that frontline staff are given the tools and training to remove accessibility barriers.
“TfL provide comprehensive disability and inclusion training for all their staff to ensure they support passengers in a way that respects their choices and independence.
“But of course it is essential we continue to listen to all the views and feedback from disabled people about anything more that needs to be done to help them get around our transport network quickly and safely.”
