'I can count on one hand the times I am offered a Tube seat'

"I can count on one hand the number of times I have been offered a seat on the Tube," says Hannah Emberton, who is six months pregnant.

The 28-year-old from Camden said she chose to wear a Baby on Board badge issued by Transport for London (TfL) in the hope of being offered a seat on her commute.

"I go into work three times a week on the Tube and I wear my badge every time," she said. "Everyone is glued on their phone these days - people are less socially aware."

On Monday TfL marked the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Baby on Board badge.

Each year, more than 80,000 badges are given out.

The badge was trialled in summer 2005 and introduced in March 2006 following research from a Mind the Bump study that said pregnant customers were made to stand for an average of five stops before being offered a seat, and 35% were never offered a seat.

Emberton, who uses the Northern line to get to work, said she walked to the front of the platform in the hope of getting a seat on a quieter carriage, and waited for busier trains to pass before she boarded.

"I can count on one hand the number of times people have got up and offered me a seat," she said.

Emberton said it was not an issue limited to priority seats, designed for people who are disabled, pregnant or less able to stand, but throughout the entire carriage.

"Those on normal seats could offer up their seat," she added.

The mother-to-be said she did not feel comfortable directly asking people to give up their seat for her.

"I feel anxious about asking someone to give up their seat as I worry it will be met with frustration," she said.

Deputy mayor for transport, Seb Dance, urged Londoners to "be mindful of those who may need a seat more than them".

To mark the anniversary of the badge, the transport authority has released a new design for women expecting twins or other multiple births.

The new Babies on Board badge is available alongside the original badge through the TfL website.

Emma Strain, from TfL, said they were "thrilled" to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the first badge and to offer an additional design.

She added: "We are sorry to hear if anyone who needs a seat on our services is unable to get one.

"We recognise that customers may be distracted by their phones or devices rather than looking up to see if someone nearby might need a seat more than them."

Strain said she hoped the new badges would "encourage everyone to look up, be considerate, and offer their seat to others if they can".

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