Assembly Member Encourages "people to use the river to get about"

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Richard Tracey: “River services extended to Putney takes another step closer”

Richard Tracey has today said that the Mayor’s decision to expand river transport was evidence that the argument “is flowing” his way on the future use of the Thames.

Mr Tracey, the assembly member for Merton and Wandsworth, said moves that will see Oyster accepted on river services from November and the River Concordat signed between boat operators, Transport for London and every council that fronts the river is all very promising in terms of expanding the service upstream to Putney.

Commenting, Mr Tracey said, “At last we’re making progress towards utilising the river to somewhere near its full potential. For the first time we’ve got all the players integral to developing the Thames as a comprehensive and integrated part of London’s public transport system talking to each other about how to move forward.

“I predict that it is now only a matter of time before we see regular boat services extended upstream to Putney, for which I am campaigning and believe will give a boost to the choice and capacity offered by public transport to my constituents.

“In the meantime I encourage people to use the river to get about. The more popular it becomes, the stronger the case for expansion.“

April 8, 2009