london —
A pilot project to trial a ‘calm space’ for neurodivergent tube travelers in London has been met with bewilderment and mild derision from the public due to the size, design and location of the new shelter.
The initiative by Tube and bus authority Transport for London (TFL) aims to support neurodiverse travellers, who make up more than one in 100 people in the UK who are on the autism spectrum. Many of them face severe sensory disturbances due to noise and crowded spaces.
In the experiment, a small open-fronted pod made by US company NOOK was installed at Ealing Broadway tube station in west London.
TFL said in a statement Friday that the idea is to “support customers who are overwhelmed by travel and need a quiet space to pause, adjust, and recover before continuing.”
The trial is being conducted in partnership with the autism charity Autistica.
TFL also posted about the Ealing Broadway trial on Facebook, with many users praising the initiative’s aims but questioning its implementation.
“For someone who needs it…I don’t think (the structure or location) is a comfortable space,” one Facebook user wrote. “But I appreciate the idea.”
Some questioned the size of the space, with multiple comments likening it to a “dog house.”
“Seems like a peaceful space for ants,” one commenter wrote.
Another criticized the choice of location.
“If it’s supposed to be a ‘quiet’ spot, it’s in the wrong place, at the top of the stairs to the platform or near the elevator,” she wrote.
Another commenter offered constructive criticism about the design.
“As an autistic person, it needs a door,” she wrote.
“It’s literally exposed. It’s just a covered bench,” she added. “It’s a good effort, but it could be redirected so people aren’t staring at it like zoo animals.”
Other comments included one claiming that “calming spaces are basically cupboards.” Another questioned whether it was designed for the diminutive Hobbits of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy books. One person said, “I can imagine teenagers vaping in there and people sleeping drunk.”
TFL said the pods would remain in place for at least four weeks, adding that a separate quiet space would be used on an eight-week trial at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
CNN has reached out to TFL for further comment.
Autistica released a statement from Michelle Newman, Senior Research Manager, highlighting the importance of accessible transportation. “As we promote neuroinclusive spaces in education, health care, and employment, we are reminded that accessibility must begin with movement to these spaces,” she said.
