In message , Richard
writes

Perhaps there are other examples but I'm always amazed about the
services on Lake Zurich. Both problems you mention are solved there,
although is a lake less affected by weather than a tidal river? Or
are they mooring in a way that some other countries wouldn't allow in
passenger service? (Not suggesting that they are.)

The big difference on the Thames is the tide: both the rise and fall,
and the strength of the tidal flow.

In somewhere like Venice, where there is normally very little difference
between high and low tide, and only very gentle tidal flows, water buses
can dock in seconds and are held by a single rope in a double
figure-of-eight. The total time at most landing stages, including
docking, is often no more than one minute (i.e. comparable to tube
stops).

--
Paul Terry