http://www.flickr.com/photos/cianginty/tags/vienna/

Cian’s last blog post…random numbers

Thanks for clearing up the name issue for me. ;)

Ed,

A point well made (about devouring the advertising on Tube trains).

Jermayn,

Your right that the advertising or symbols aren’t the real issue, but I think they serve as a good reminder, and that the actual design is important in that respect.

I catch a train 2/3 days a week and very rarely does a day go by when you see a little old lady struggling to stand up. Most of the time, if you say something to someone who is sitting down, they move but apart from that?

btw I actually think the symbols on the seats is fairly cool, add some colour to a rather boring train…

Jermayn Parker’s last blog post..Illegal tackle - Push in back

Yes, I used to travel a lot on the tube when I lived in London. Like many other people, I am sure, I made an art form of switching off on the tube and thinking of more positive things in order to get through the monotomy of it etc .. I, also, think that advertising (but I have no evidence for it) works well on the tube as people are so by bored by the journey that they will devour anything whether it be an ad on office scanners to an ad on bus travel - flitting in between that and trying not to to be aware of the journey ..

(actually it’s not that bad: being slightly dramatic to make a point ..).

Eamon’s last blog post..Do The People You Hire Lay Golden Eggs ?

Off topic answer: Mohd is part of my name (Mohd Rafie). But I prefer someone to call me Rafie. Some people used to pronounce it ‘Mohd’ but in my case it is actually an abbreviation of “Muhammad”. That is what my parents told me. Or during the registration of my birth cert, the nurse just want to cut it short. :)

Rafie’s last blog post..Cover: MohdRafie.Co.Uk

It’s certainly possible that the second Japanese image isn’t a spoof, although for public trains I very much doubt it. I like your statement for use on possible signs.

Harris,

Can you really expect women not to travel simply because they’re pregnant? For many people, public transport is the only option.

Nancy,

Your definitely right, we shouldn’t have to be told how to treat others.

Jose,

Thanks for the kind regards, and I hope you too had an enjoyable weekend.

Micek,

I’m curious what image you’d suggest to represent the elderly. Is there anything more widely recognised than a cane?

Ed,

Interesting point about how people tend to switch off on the Tube, to remove themselves from the journey. Do you travel on it regularly?

Rafie,

Glad to see your compassion for the pregnant. I have an off-topic question: what do you use Mohd to signify?

Jem,

Thanks for sharing your story. Combating the awkwardness people feel when asking is something the British culture is needing, perhaps more-so than others. Like you, I don’t mind standing if it means someone more needy gets to rest a while.

JSnark,

I like that idea - to have certain seats a very bright colour. As touched upon already, every seat should be ‘priority’, but to have those close to doors really stand-out would increase awareness.

Johno,

Good to get your take, being a Japanese resident.

…the signage that shouts “priority seat” the loudest is probably the best one; we live in a world where subtlety rarely triumphs–unfortunately.

I’d agree with that, and think JSnark’s idea could be of most benefit. Here’s hoping the signs do indeed act as a reminder to those who need it.

Interestingly, in Japan, which is an unusually polite society (it’s a clicé, but it is so), on the trains the Japanese tend to be quite un-Japanese–and during rush hour, it’s mayhem. However, I do think that the signage is a good idea; and the signage that shouts “priority seat” the loudest is probably the best one; we live in a world where subtlety rarely triumphs–unfortunately.

johno’s last blog post..Sunday Type: illegible type