No One Taking East River Ferry Now That You Have To Pay

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Remember the East River Ferry that we were so excited about? The one that was free for a few weeks when it first started running? Well, as it turns out, now that it's not so free anymore, no one wants to take it.

As The Post puts it, business has been sinking "like the Titanic" after NY Waterway instituted a $4 ticket fee last week. Ridership dropped from 10,900 during the ten day free period to just 3,613 in the first five days of ticketed rides. On the first Monday that passengers had to pay, only 2,824 customers hopped on, as opposed to the 5,700 that came aboard the previous Monday.

Although the Ferry is less than a month old, it's already had its fair share of problems: delays early on annoyed customers, and Commuter Race we staged last month resulted in the Ferry trip from Williamsburg to Madison Square taking over an hour. Still, NY Waterways doesn't seem too concerned: "The ridership . . . has exceeded our expectations and, even at the start of the pay period, we have seen high demand for this new transportation service," said a company spokesman.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jamie Feldmar in News on July 4, 2011 12:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Guest

Wow that is amazing, about 50% of the ridership stayed. I thought they'd be lucky to get 33% of the same ridership once it started costing money.
Negative journalism completely ignoring perspective.

@facebook-1091400182:disqus
For me the ferry is now my quickest commute door to door so I've been enjoying the mornings.
Of course anyone that doesn't work relatively close off East 34th St or Wall St it doesn't make sense to ride really.
However NYC used to be all about ferrys and boats as forms of public transit.
It was called anytime before the Brooklyn Bridge was built - which accounts for about 300 years of life in New York City as opposed to the 100 years the idea of ferry transit has gone down hill.
Though you do make a good point about the Metrocard - if it could be used like on an express bus then that would be a brilliant idea though MTA will never own the system, maybe a partnership will occur someday.

Donald

How come my neighbors and I are being called a no one?!?

calcetines

so 3613 for the first five days, times 2 is 7226 for the first 10 days if the same rate remains. Seems like a reasonable drop from 10k when it was free....

Fluffhead513

Good, I was hoping someone would notice that little math trick.

Shabazz Stuart

NYC has never been serious about Ferry service. We could have a great system, but we don't. Here are the big problems:

1) This is a MetroCard city, Ferry's don't accept MetroCards or even offer free transfers to subways and busses!! Yet, Ferries don't go directly into the city, so those who take the Ferry almost always have to take another form of transportation at their destination. Put the Ferry on the MetroCard system, and people would defiantly take it.

2) There aren't Subway and Bus connections with Ferry service. Busses should congregate around Ferry terminals, and Ferry Terminals should be built near subway stops.

3) Ferries don't go anywhere. Yep, hudson river & east river ferries are nice, except for the fact that you could hop on a number of subways and get there in half the time!! If you really want Ferry Service to be popular try having ferries go to places that could actually use the service... like Coney Island. A Ferry there would be a BIG deal, because it would be faster than the subway (potentially) and would offer a scenic route through the bay. What about Bay Ridge, or Whitestone, all places undeserved by subways, but accessible by water.

MsMichelle

Quit your whining. I take the ferry and there are plenty of people on it during rush hour. You should recreate your commuter race for between Greenpoint or Dumbo and Wall Street (where a lot of people who are not banker douchebags also work).

Kriston Lewis

Are they civil douchebags?

Shawn Lynch

I feel like moving from free to paid and seeing only a 50% drop in ridership is probably darn good.

Robert Mack

The ferry needs to run later then 8pm!

LazyNanny

We should be trying to isolate the hipsters, not give them more travel options.

kevd

Ha ha! you said "hipsters!" That makes it funny!

robingee

yawn

ijustsaid

What the heck are you talking about? I've read a few articles that have stated the opposite, that ridership is exceeding what was hoped for paid service. Who do I believe?