Questions Raised Over £2m-a-Year Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle as Usage Falls

TfL's free cycle shuttle through the Silvertown Tunnel is costing around £5,400 a day to operate, with the latest figures showing daily passenger numbers have fallen sharply since the service launched.

Transport for London's free cycle shuttle through the Silvertown Tunnel has come under renewed scrutiny after figures revealed the service is carrying as few as 51 cyclists a day, despite costing around £2 million a year to operate.

The zero-emission shuttle, introduced when the tunnel opened in April 2025, was designed to provide cyclists with a safe way to cross the Thames because bicycles are prohibited from using the road tunnel itself.

However, declining passenger numbers have prompted questions over whether the service represents value for money.

High Operating Costs, Low Passenger Numbers

According to figures released by TfL, operating the dedicated shuttle costs approximately £5,400 per day, with buses running every 12 minutes between Seagull Lane in the Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula.

Demand was initially strong following the tunnel's opening, with almost 300 cyclists using the service during its first week.

But usage has since dropped considerably.

Recent data indicates that daily patronage has fallen to around 51 passengers, meaning the cost of providing the service now exceeds £100 per cyclist on some days.

Required by Government

Despite the low passenger numbers, TfL is not currently able to withdraw the service.

The cycle shuttle forms part of the conditions attached to the Department for Transport's approval of the Silvertown Tunnel scheme and is required to remain in operation until 2028.

The service was introduced to ensure cyclists retained a cross-river option after the opening of the vehicle-only tunnel.

Balancing Accessibility and Cost

The latest figures are likely to reignite debate over how transport authorities balance accessibility requirements with operational efficiency.

Supporters argue that maintaining dedicated cycling links across the Thames is essential, regardless of demand, particularly while no permanent cycling infrastructure exists through the crossing.

Critics, however, question whether a service carrying relatively small numbers of passengers can justify its ongoing operating costs at a time when public transport budgets remain under pressure.

The shuttle continues to operate throughout the day using zero-emission vehicles, providing a free alternative for cyclists travelling between east London's Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula while the Department for Transport's requirements remain in force.