Request protective masks for Disabled Extremely Vulnerable TfL Passengers
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps MP and Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Heidi Alexander
Disabled Passengers have wide ranging conditions and many have been shielding for these but rely on public transport for work. Spaces will be limited and many won't be able to stand at stops without seats for long waiting for public transport to arrive with capacity for them due to limited spaces from social distancing on board.
Face coverings on public transport became mandatory on the 15th June 2020 and removing these to explain a hidden disability puts them at greater risk.
This petition calls for face masks for Extremely Vulnerable registered Disabled Person's Freedom pass holders who will have no choice but to use public transport to travel to work as soon as shielding ends with the same information as the blue card printed on the mask.
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps MP and Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Heidi Alexander
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Mr Shapps,
As you will be aware many people who are extremely vulnerable due to a wide range of medical conditions and co-morbidities will find themselves returning to work when the shielding period ends at the end of this month.
Those who have a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass, blue badge and card for priority seating from TfL will need support as passenger numbers will be reduced for social distancing including on public transport. Many will struggle waiting for long periods for the public transport at increased risk. Many will have no choice but to get public transport to work due to the restrictions on driving caused by their disability which qualifies them for the Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass. Standing for long periods is also difficult for some disabled people.
I’m requesting your department financially support a proposal to produce and distribute TfL branded ‘please offer me a seat’ masks to eligible passengers who have the blue badge and card and a disabled person’s freedom pass. Some people ignore the badge and disabled people need to request a seat from those who occupy priority seats and don’t need one. Removing a mask in an enclosed bus to ask is dangerous given how COVID-19 spreads. Drivers will know who to prioritise if capacity is restricted as it presently is for social distancing reasons.
I am copying in Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Heidi Alexander and Caroline Pidgeon AM.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,