NY Waterway's East River Ferry
Smooth Sailing on the East River Ferry
NY Waterway?
is excited by the overwhelmingly positive response to the East River
Ferry, which has been demonstrated by the sheer volume of riders, both
before and after the free ridership period. The free period, lasting for
the first 12 days of service, drew in nearly 12,000 riders in the first
two days alone.
Moving beyond the free period, ridership remained strong. 9,800 riders
boarded in the first three days of paid service. "The ridership on the
East River Ferry has exceeded our expectations and, even at the start of
the pay-period, we have seen high demand for this new transportation
service," says Paul Goodman, CEO of Billybey Ferry Company, which
operates
NY Waterway?’s East River Ferry.
Residents of the communities served by the East River Ferry have already
demonstrated gratitude for and loyalty to the new service, reinforcing
exactly what the East River Ferry was meant to be – a frequent, reliable
service that connects Manhattan with various destinations in Brooklyn,
Queens and on Governor's Island. "We look forward to continuing to
provide service to those along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfront, and
leisure passengers from Manhattan and beyond,” says Goodman.
East River Ferry is also made popular by the spectacular views of NYC
from the river, which offers riders the opportunity to see the city from
a new perspective, and the relaxing, hassle-free commute in the fresh
air, all with commute times that are faster or comparable to other forms
of transportation. “It’s so relaxing! It’s just a great idea and it’s
right there,” says Priscilla Terrero, an East River Ferry rider. “My
commute is about the same time as if I was taking the L, but I get to
see the city from another angle.”