Thames Clippers – a river bus service in London – is partnering with Uber to provide a new river and road travel service to help encourage commuters and tourists to travel by boat across the city.
A fleet of 20 boats will operate on the River Thames. Users will be able to purchase tickets in advance through the Uber app – using Uber account details and then being able to board using QR technology – and through the regular Thames Clippers ticketing processes.
“As Londoners begin to head back to work and move safely across the city, they will now be able to book travel on both the river and road through the Uber app,” said Jamie Heywood, regional general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Uber. “We must ensure that everyone does not return to their cars in response to the crisis, so our vision is to end private car ownership in favor of shared, electric vehicles, as well as making greater use of the river network for urban mobility.”
Pre-pandemic, Thames Clippers carried 1.4 passengers per square meters which was reduced to 0.85 during the last few months – making social distancing an added feature of the commuter service.
“We’re excited that in this new world we are able to offer a new way of travelling through the capital by enabling multi-modal transport with a continued focus on great customer experience,” added Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO, Thames Clippers. “This partnership reflects the resurgence of the river and we’re looking forward to welcoming new passengers on-board to enjoy the unique benefits of navigating London safely by taking to the Thames.”