Satisfaction levels with the Thames cable car have fallen to their lowest levels since the scheme opened.
The latest official Transport for London survey of users shows overall satisfaction fell to 77% in the April-June quarter, down three points on the same period last year and the lowest score to date.
The survey also reveals that Londoners are the least satisfied with the scheme, with just 72% happy with their experience.
In addition to being asked for their overall view of the scheme, survey participants are asked to score each individual element, including cleanliness, queue times, comfort and value for money.
The latest poll finds high satisfaction with cleanliness, litter and state of repair, however the scheme scores poorly for length of journey time (89) and value for money (84).
Scores for value for money have consistently lagged behind those for all other metrics.
Despite TfL repeatedly claiming the cable car is part of the capital’s transport network, Travelcard and Freedom Pass holders cannot use their existing passes to travel and must purchase a separate ticket costing £3.20 per journey.
The cable car is also excluded from the daily fares cap which limits the amount paid by Oyster Pay As you Go users on other transport modes.
Official statistics show passenger numbers are routinely below the levels seen for the same weeks last year, although there was a slight increase last week when 52,684 passengers used the scheme compared with 51,317 last year.
TfL and Mayor Boris Johnson have so far resisted calls to lower fares and integrate the cable car into the Oyster network and insist passenger numbers will grow in future years.
Commenting on the latest survey, London Assembly member Darren Johnson said: “The Mayor says he expects ridership on the cable car to increase, but as Londoners’ satisfaction levels drop compared to visitors from outside the capital it looks like any growth in passenger numbers will come from tourists rather than the local people who have funded the link.”
“A satisfaction level of 72 per cent is a full ten points lower than satisfaction on the London Overground for the same period and TfL should examine closely how the passenger experience can be improved for locals.
“I would urge TfL to revise the fare policy to include the cable car in the Oyster cap, daily travelcards and the Freedom Pass so that it attracts commuters/other Londoners undertaking regular travel.”
