Water Taxi

miss_dana

As of Feb. 1 the ferry will no longer operate out of Sunset Park. Did anyone use this form of transportation? What are your feelings about the cancellation of service (i.e. upset, happy, lesser transportation options into the city)? I'm a journalist working on a piece and will like to get input from local residents and workers. Any insight is much appreciated and respected.

daver

Lol, I wonder how _you_ feel? I'm happy that there are "lesser transportation options into the city". That is always a good thing.

I've never used it, and can't think of a reason that I would. I would view anything that provides more options as a good thing. I do not expect a private company to continue running a service at a loss. I'm not sure I want to subsidize it publicly without taking a closer look at it, but I would certainly support that option if it makes sense. (Making sense to me means that public dollars won't be subsidizing a private company to make a profit at a high cost per passenger to the public.)

http://www.nywatertaxi.com/commuters/brooklyn-army-terminal/

carnivore

On 9/11 and in the last blackout, the various ferry services really helped move people out of lower Manhattan. It would be a shame to lose one of these backup transportations systems, but I agree with daver that it would be pretty hard to justify public expenditure for this on any other grounds.

jane_birkin

i actually did not know that there was still ferry service from SP to Manhattan, which shows how well they promoted this transit option. however, the very fact that the ferry left from the waterfront is what made it inconvenient for many people, since there's no real convenient way to get *to* the waterfront. the prospect of hopping on a bus to go to a desolate, cold area just to get on a ferry that takes you to south street (assuming that's where the ferry let off), then walking 10 minutes to another train to go uptown...that is way more of a project than walking a few minutes to the R train and dozing off.

that's my conjecture.

rnt

I used to take the free ferry in the summer on days when I could get in a little late. Beat the hot crowded subway and was a great pleasure. They also used to have a shuttle bus that ran along 4th ave which made it almost convenient. But the long walk to the subway in Manhatten was a pain. When they canceled the shuttle and then the ferry leaving the water taxi, that was the end for me. Too far to get to, too long a ride and walk , too expensive to justify.

filmlover44

Subject: Re: Water Taxi

miss_dana wrote: As of Feb. 1 the ferry will no longer operate out of Sunset Park. Did anyone use this form of transportation? What are your feelings about the cancellation of service (i.e. upset, happy, lesser transportation options into the city)? I'm a journalist working on a piece and will like to get input from local residents and workers. Any insight is much appreciated and respected.

Wasn't the water taxi kind of expensive for the average Sunset park resident and not particularly convenient to get to?