On my way home from Squeak's on the A2 I saw the towers going up and thought they were floodlamps for the 2012 McDonalds/CocaCola/UPS/Heineken Games (not much British there!). Last time I came back I saw the cables and cars on it and was really surprised, but assumed it would just be for the Mega-Corporation Games, and I would never use it. Then the news said it was permanent, and I thought it would be £20 like the Eye. The I found out you can use Oyster Cards on it (like on Tubes, DLR and Buses, all with discount). Then I found out it was Disabled accessable, AND cycles could be carried. I was stunned, normally our bureaucrats have no imagination and don't think things through. It's sad to be surprised that something is good, but this is!
With Oyster it is just £3.20 single. Cars take about 10. Everything is relaxed and friendly. At the platform staff look out for family or friend groups so they can all share, cyclists, people with luggage or disabled people are spotted and the next available car is allocated. They fold up one or both of the bench seats, and there are straps beneath them to secure anything on wheels. I was on my folding mini bike, but full size are allowed at all times, but if very busy you might have to wait a bit longer for a suitable car and fellow passengers. Strangers talk and take photos of each other. It links ExCel with the O2, with DLR stations and tube nearby, and is not too far from City Airport; I hope they will make another (or a small mono-rail) to link the cable car directly to LCY.
I have not been on the Eye, it's expensive enough that other things have always taken a higher priority, but this is higher AND you go somewhere!
Other Thames crossings involve traffic jams, and/or tunnels. There are two foot bridges at Hungerford and the Wobbly Bridge, as well as the Greenwich foot tunnel, but using these you have to walk with your bike, a bit of a pain. So the cable car is a useful extra crossing, affordable AND brilliant fun too, even if you do suffer from vertigo like me!
I just cannot believe the bureaucrats and planners have got EVERYTHING right this time!