It’s important to us to increase the visibility of disabled Londoners across our city. For International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Sunday 3 December, we’ve installed green wheelchair user traffic lights near five accessible stations in London.
Green means go 💚
Londoners and visitors to the capital will see the specially designed green wheelchair user symbols replacing the traditional green figure at selected pedestrian crossings. Locations for the new wheelchair user traffic signals have been carefully selected based on their proximity to busy Tube stations, which offer step-free access.
Pedestrians rely on the green signal to cross the road. The reimagined symbols improve representation of disabled people on London’s streets. Created in line with the safety features of the green figure, people can still recognise the cue of when it is safe to cross the road.
Wheelchair User Traffic Light Designs 🚦
The new designs will replace the green man symbol at five locations.
🚦 Bishopsgate by New Street (City of London)
🚦 Warwick Road by Earl’s Court Station (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea)
🚦 Grays Inn Road with Kings Cross Bridge (Camden)
🚦 Tower Hill by Tower Hill Station (Tower Hamlets)
🚦 Whitechapel Road by Whitechapel Station (Tower Hamlets)
There are two designs showing a person using an independently controlled manual wheelchair and a person using an electric wheelchair. TfL worked closely with its Independent Disability Advisory Group (IDAG) and other key disability campaigners to ensure that the signs best reflect wheelchair users.
An Olympic Idea 🏅
Three-time Olympian gold medal winning rower Captain Pete Reed OBE approached TfL with his idea of a wheelchair traffic signal. In 2019 he experienced a spinal stroke which left him paralysed from his chest down. He wanted to raise awareness of all the disabled Londoners and visitors to the city so that the disabled community can travel more easily and add value to the city as residents, workers or tourists. He also wants to encourage more Londoners to think access for wheelchairs users or those with other disabilities.
It was his idea to create these traffic signals that are representative of disabled people in a diverse and inclusive global city.
Q&A with Captain Pete Reed OBE 👥
How did you come up with the idea?
🗣 As an Olympic athlete and naval officer, I spent my early adult life at the peak of human fitness. In 2019, in one day everything changed for me. My life now as a full-time wheelchair user has a whole range of new demands, which can be dramatically helped by better access and transport for wheelchair users, just as there should also be for the wider disabled community.
What does inclusion mean to you?
🗣 The disabled community can and do offer so much value to all parts of society. I hope this visibility in mainstream life makes more people feel comfortable about getting out in the city and raising their voices where they see opportunity for positive change and collaboration.
What do you hope that this campaign will inspire in others?
🗣 Initially, I hope the campaign will make people stop and think for a second. They might think about why the new wheelchair user signal is there. They might think about how lucky they are to be able to walk. They might start noticing obstacles in the street, at work or at home that prevent access for the disabled community. They might think about what it might be like to be in a wheelchair. They might think about how they could make their environment more welcoming or easier to navigate. They might decide to educate themselves about accessibility.
Tell us why is this campaign important to you?
🗣 What are ‘only’ five traffic lights to one Londoner represent progress, positivity and possibility to another.
The ultimate goal in a few years is that no one has to consciously think about it, because living in a world with access to everyone is normal. If more wheelchair users feel safe and independent in the streets, enjoying, using and contributing to the city and the economy, then our mode of movement will be normalised, and everyone will benefit. So, I hope this first step inspires thoughtful and healthy compassion and change.
What is your favourite journey on Public Transport?
🗣 I’m still very fond of the 94 from my hometown of Chiswick to Piccadilly Circus. Chiswick is where my gold postbox from London 2012 still sits so it has a special place in my heart!
Shepherds Bush, to Holland Park Ave, Hyde Park then into the West End was my old stomping ground with many happy memories and many more to come.
Aidan is a Senior Programme Manager who has worked for TfL for eight years. ‘I am proud to work for TfL because of the public service it provides and the many initiatives it promotes to encourage and assist people to use public transport. And as someone who is severely sight impaired I feel both supported as a transport user and as an employee.’ 
Angela is a Resource and Capability Development Manager who has worked for TfL for 20 years. ‘TfL has changed like the world has. This Photoshoot shows how we are all adapting and have a presence in our jobs and everyday life. Customers can see who is behind the scenes, one of us is representing someone like them.’ 
Brian is an Employee Relations Advisor who has worked for TfL for 42 years. He joined the company as an operational apprentice and became visually impaired in April 1985. At the time, the unemployment rate for blind or partially sighted people was around 75%. Brian was able to find a new role within TfL and has since helped other to do the same. 
Ele is an Assistant Correspondence Manager who handles queries on road user charging. She has worked for TfL for 20 years. In addition to dealing with her own disability, she has helped others come to terms with having a stoma by bringing positivity and support to their journeys. 
Forest is a videographer who has worked for TfL since 2021. I am most proud of accepting myself for who I am. Being open with myself and coming out as an autistic Trans man allows me to pursue the care I need. He wanted to dispel the myth that disability is a fixed state. On some days I’ll be more impacted by my disability than others.’ 
Len is an area manager for London Underground. He has worked for TfL for the past 25 years and has been responsible for managing groups of stations on the Central and Victoria Lines. Len lives a non visible disability and is most proud of working on his mental and physical health following his diagnosis, so that he’s is now in the position to live the best life possible. 
Marianne has worked for TfL for eight years. She is the current Chair of the Colleague Network Group for Disability, and worked in TfL’s Corporate Archives. ‘Disabilities aren’t all visible and there are so many different types of them. Don’t judge people based on stereotypes or argue with people directly about whether they are disabled or not.’ 
Rizwan is an Asset Accountant who has worked for TfL for three years. He has volunteered for this photoshoot because he has suffered from severe depression and wants to inspire others to keep going. Rizwan is proudest of having achieved his accountancy qualification while undergoing treatment for depression. 
Sharon is a Business Operations Advisor who has worked for TfL for 30 years. She has attended the TUC Disabled Worker’s conference several times. She is proudest of achieving her Level 3 Employment Law Diploma while going through a challenging g time in her life. ‘Not all disabilities are visible and the symptoms can cause so much panic and anxiety.’ 
Simon is a Principal Sponsor and the Vice-Chair of the Colleague Network Group for Disability. He has worked for TfL for seven years. ‘An an organisation, we should be showing how transport can be a lifeline to those who. need extra help in their day-to-day lives. But more than that, we should celebrate the people who have built it, who make it work each day, who fight to make the world more inclusive and accepting. 
Stephen is a Risk and Governance Adviser who has worked for TfL for more than 20 years. He volunteers with several charities outside the office. He has autism spectrum disorder and would like to see transport networks and the wider environment become more accessible an inclusive. 
Stephen is an Asset Delivery Manager who has been with TfL for more than 42 years, earning Chartered Engineer status. He is currently working on projects to bring step-free access to various Tube stations. Stephen is dyslexic and is active within Listening Groups for Dyslexia at TfL to help others learn more about the disability. 
Venetia is an ally to the disability community who has been working at TfL for 20 years. She is a Customer Experience Manager, who works to provide disability awareness training to TfL staff. Venetia posed for this photo shoot with her chosen family Avril, who is currently mobility impaired.
Commemorating Disability History Month
Volunteers from TfL’s Colleague Network Group for Disability (CNGD) participated in a portrait campaign that will be on display at Victoria and Green Park stations.
Those participating work in a variety of roles for TfL, and many of them have non-visible disabilities. They discuss the ways that they are working to make TfL a more welcoming place for disabled people, and how their disabilities can be an asset in the workplace.
Improving accessibility across the network ♿️
Our traffic signals already cater for users with mobility and visual impairments. Pedestrians with visual impairments can use tactile cones installed under the push button wait indicator boxes which rotate during the green signal. This provides the indication that it is safe to cross. We also provide drop kerbs to safely lead users from the pavement to carriageway. Tactile paving helps guide those with visual impairments to the push button and tactile cone.
We’re also continuing to adapt and improve services for people who have accessibility needs.
Travel Mentoring Service
Our free service supports those with a mobility requirement or a disability to feel more confident when travelling on the network. We can help you plan an accessible route, accompany you on your first few practice journeys and assist you virtually via apps. Find out more about the service.
Improving access across the Tube network
Ten stations are going to be prioritised for step-free access on the Tube and rail network in 2023 and 2024. These stations are Alperton, Arnos Grove, Burnt Oak, Eastcote, Finchley Road, Northolt, North Acton, Rayners Lane, West Hampstead and White City.
Trains on the Central line, one of the busiest lines on the Tube, are also undergoing extensive overhaul work. They will soon feature dedicated wheelchair spaces, better lighting and new grab poles.
Following a successful trial, mini-ramps will be introduced across the Underground network early next year. These will appear at step-free access Underground stations where there is a small gap between the train and platform.
Understanding customer need
Transport for London (TfL) has joined forces with Bild (British Institute of Learning Disabilities) and People First to launch a customer survey. The aim is to understand the views and opinions of people with autism, learning disabilities or difficulties to understand how we can improve our services. We want to find out what barriers people face travelling around London to explore new customer initiatives.
Find out more about the initiative and complete the survey.
Bringing improvements to streets and buses
The Mobility Aid Recognition scheme is designed to make accessible travel on London’s buses easier. Carrying a Mobility Aid card allows customers to easily and quickly let the driver know that your aid is suitable for bus travel. To join the scheme, email us.
We’re working with all London councils to make pavements more accessible for disabled people. This includes removing clutter from streets such retail signage, and working with dockless bike and e-scooter companies to ensure they are parked correctly.
Planning accessible journeys
TfL and Google are collaborating to provide Google Street View within thirty Tube stations across London. The aim is to help customers with accessibility needs in planning their journeys. Launching in 2024, it will allow customers to get a better sense of the layout of the stations. You can identify key facilities such as toilets, lifts and help points.
TfL has updated the Electronic Service Update Boards to make the lift service status easier to read and to have less time waiting for the board to scroll to the relevant information.
A self-reporting lifts project is underway to enable automatic updates when lifts are in and out of service. You will see this updated on TfL’s journey planner, the TfL Go app, third-party navigation apps as well as in stations.
Share your tips for accessible places and things to do
Read our blog with our recommendations for an accessible day out in the capital, or post your fun recommendations in the comments.
Visit our travel tools webpage to find details about our journey planner, TfL Go app and how to plan an accessible journey.