Greenwich Lib Dem blogger Chris Smith reports on the weekly figures showing the lowest usage yet on the Thames cable car, and echoes Caroline Pidgeon's concerns that the cable car is being managed more as a tourist attraction than a serious form of transport.
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the latest figures for ridership on the cable car which show that daily ridership has fallen to as low as 301 passengers on one day and that just 16 Oyster card holders used the cable car more than five times in the week ending 21st October 2012 said:
“Outside of weekends and school holidays the passenger figures for the Thames cable car are pitiful. It is now increasingly clear that the Thames cable car is little more than a tourist attraction and not proving a useful link for people who regularly commute across the Thames.
“Of course if the Mayor had just been honest about this from the outset and honoured his claim that the scheme would be funded entirely from private funds there would be no complaints. But that is not what he promised Londoners.
“Having poured so much public money into the scheme the Mayor must now ensure it operates like an integral form of public transport. A good start would be to ensure that people with a relevant Travelcard are not charged again for using a publicly funded transport scheme.”
Speaking to the BBC about the extremely low passenger numbers on the Thames cable car, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"All we're seeing is a publicly funded tourist attraction rather than a serious mode of transport. What the Mayor now needs to do is to incorporate it in the Travelcard network, to make sure people are using it, rather than the handful that are today."
The Snipe London website reports that - as revealed by Caroline Pidgeon's question to the Mayor - only 1400 people have used the Greenwich-Newham cable car often enough to get the discount for frequent users.
Speaking to the Evening Standard about the long delays and cost escalations in refurbishing the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels, Caroline Pidgeon said:
"It is time Greenwich council admitted exactly why the budget has gone through the roof and the tunnels are still in such an appalling state."
Caroline Pidgeon AM, along with Greenwich Lib Dem campaigner Chris Smith attended a Greenwich Young People's Council on Saturday 6th October in Woolwich Dockyard. Young people form across Greenwich and members of the Youth Parliament organised the day to have fun and to discuss transport concerns from young residents.
"It was really good to meet so many young people and to hear directly their concerns regarding the accessibility of the transport network and safety. It was also a pleasure to meet David Hall and Michael Omoniyi again, local
elected young people from Greenwich who are doing such a good job" commented Caroline.
After questioning from Caroline Pidgeon - on a topic she has raised before - the Mayor has agreed that passengers will be able to use the Greenwich to Docklands cable car at no extra charge if other means of transport are disrupted.
Caroline said:
"It is only right that the long established principle of tickets being used on alternative forms of transport should be upheld this summer if there is major disruption.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the announcement that the Thames Cable Car will open from midday on Thursday 28th June said:
“It is welcome news that the Thames Cable Car will be open before the Olympic Games, as additional forms of transport will be helpful in dealing with the exceptional pressures the capital will face later this Summer, and help spectators travel between the Excel and O2 venues.
Speaking to the Evening Standard about the Thames cable car that is shortly to open, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“After misleading Londoners and claiming two years ago that the Thames cable car would not cost a penny of taxpayers’ money it is time the Mayor provided some honest answers.
“Not only do we need to know when it will finally open but the Mayor must also tell us how much a ride will cost and whether Oyster will be accepted from the start.”
Greenwich Lib Dem Chris Smith writes on his blog to welcome the news that - after questioning from Caroline Pidgeon in the London Assembly last week - the Mayor has identified Greenwich, Vauxhall Cross and Croydon as pilot areas for new combined cycle and pedestrian spaces which will be separated from motor traffic. The London Cycling Campaign has been strongly making the case for this in its "Love London, Go Dutch" campaign.