Patronage and Satisfaction Levels of Tricycle Users in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the patronage and satisfaction levels of tricycle users in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria, with a view to understanding the role of tricycle transportation in urban mobility and assessing the relationship between service utilisation and user satisfaction. The study adopted a survey research design and relied on primary data obtained through the administration of structured questionnaires to tricycle users across the metropolis. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, while data were analysed using mean weighted values and Pearson product-moment Correlation statistics. The findings revealed that tricycles constitute a highly patronised mode of transportation within Calabar Metropolis, owing largely to their affordability, accessibility, convenience, flexibility, and ability to navigate congested urban corridors. Patronage indicators recorded high mean values ranging from 3.4 to 3.9, indicating frequent utilisation for commuting, business trips, leisure activities, errands, and last-mile connectivity. Similarly, users expressed a generally high level of satisfaction with tricycle services, particularly regarding efficiency, safety, affordability, reliability, and service delivery, with satisfaction indices ranging from 3.3 to 3.9. The study further established a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between patronage and satisfaction levels (r = 0.886, p < 0.05), suggesting that improvements in service quality are likely to enhance user patronage and long-term sustainability. The study concludes that tricycles remain indispensable to urban mobility in Calabar Metropolis and recommends strengthened regulatory oversight, improved operational standards, enhanced safety measures, and formal integration of tricycle services into the city's transportation planning framework to promote sustainable and user-centred urban transport development.