Give up your seat to pregant women, commuters told

9:17am Friday 7th March 2008

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Tube passengers are being urged to give up their seats to pregnant women, in new signs to be rolled out on Monday.

New priority seating stickers will appear on Tube trains across the network, including the Central and Victoria lines that serve Waltham Forest.

It is the first time signs have asked passengers to give up their seat for pregnant women, previously they just advised priority be given to people with disabilities or for those less able to stand.

The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "These signs ask all passengers to give pregnant women the respect to which they are entitled by offering them a seat.

"I am asking all passengers pay attention to their fellow travellers and make sure that pregnant women are offered a seat."

A third of pregnant women travelling on the tube are never offered a seat, according to research by London Underground.

The Metropolitan Line general manager Angela Black said: "Many pregnant women are often reluctant to ask someone to give up their seat, particularly in the early stages of pregnancy.

"The aim is to help make it easier for pregnant women to get a seat on the Tube at a time when they need it without the embarrassment of needing to ask someone to give up their seat.

"The onus is now on customers to keep an eye out for anyone in their carriage who might have a greater need for a seat."

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