Soap star James Moore has asked able-bodied travellers to show consideration for disabled transport users during journeys.
The 25-year-old Emmerdale actor spoke out earlier today after noticing a tweet from another user which showed several suitcases piled up in a train carriage space reserved for passengers in wheelchairs.
Commenting on the post, James urged his thousands of followers not to follow the example in the original image and “to show a bit of courtesy”.
Cerebral palsy sufferer James – who plays Charity’s long-lost son Ryan Stocks – indicated a lack of mindfulness towards disabled spaces could cause unnecessary struggles for passengers with restricted mobility.
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“Please help accommodate disabled people on public transport,” he wrote.
“I’m fairly mobile but for others it can be much more difficult.
“Wheelchair spaces are for wheelchairs! All it takes is a bit of courtesy and understanding.”
In a later exchange between James and the user who posted the pic of the luggage, it became clear she was meeting a rail executive to discuss travel options for disabled customers.
😞 please help accommodate disabled people on public transport. I’m fairly mobile but for others it can be much more difficult. Wheelchair spaces are for wheelchairs! All it takes is a bit of courtesy and understanding!😊 https://t.co/alOmqG8bVL
— James Moore (@jamesmooreactor) August 30, 2018
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“Amazing!” he replied.
Fans were quick to give James their backing – and relate their own similar travel experiences.
Fully understand this, I have asked people to move from designated spaces on trains and buses, often a torrent of abuse in return, what has happened to manners
— Jeanette Bardon (@jeanette_bardon) August 30, 2018
Retweeted. This totally annoys me& Id have to say something. It’s one of my bugbears, the space is there for a reason.
— melanie poole (@pumpkinpoole) August 30, 2018
👍no putting luggage in wheelchair spaces. Plus buggies are not equal in importance to wheelchair users! Love Emmerdale hope u stay
— Colleen Johnson (@_colleenjohnson) August 30, 2018
James, who has previously spoken about how he initially gave up on acting as a teenager because he didn’t think there were roles for him to play, is dedicated to helping ensure people of all disabilities are represented on screen and in everyday life.
Speaking about his new acting job, he told Metro.co.uk: “Obviously, I’d love to see more disabled people being represented and I think we’re in an age where we’ve progressed so quickly in everything – sexuality, race, and gender.
“I think it’s fantastic that Emmerdale are hiring trans actors to play trans characters, disabled actors to play disabled characters.
“It really helps us, as actors, bring the most to our role because we have that experience. And a truth, because we have that experience and we have the knowledge to connect to the characters and to give it a fresh angle.”
– Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays
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