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East River Ferry Way More Popular Than City Thought It Would Be
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 17, 2011
Modified Oct 17, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Oct 17, 2011
Modified Oct 17, 2011
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Sure, the East River Ferry has had its issues since its launch this summer: delays annoyed commuters, Hasidic Jews were pissed about its child restrictions, and for a minute there, it looked like no one wanted to ride the thing at all. But those issues pale in comparison to the latest problem: the ferry is too damn popular.
The ferry has actually attracted twice as many riders as city planners expected, reports the New York Times.
According to data supplied by city officials, nearly 350,000 people have paid to ride the ferries since late June, far more than the 134,000 they had projected. On weekdays, the number of riders has averaged 2,862, almost double the forecast of 1,488. And on weekends, ridership has averaged almost 4,500 more than six times the city’s projection. But really, the weekend thing makes total sense: it's so much easier to carry that vintage armoire from the Brooklyn Flea back via boat.
The bad news? Ferry service is being reduced for the winter starting on November 1, and the city doesn't want to pay operator BillyBey Ferry Company extra to accommodate the crush of passengers. But, as Seth Pinksy, president of the city's Economic Development Corporation, puts it, "'in an era of limited resources,' it would be difficult to find more public money for the service." Don't you dare jack up those ticket prices any more, operators, or riders across the city will call your bluff on the whole "commuter service" thing. Perhaps the Ferry can find a nice private donor to keep it afloat? Surely there's a Rockefeller out there with a nautical fetish.
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east river
East River Ferry
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Jamie Feldmar
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