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NYC Beach Bus Expands Service To Include Fire Island, Jones Beach
By
John Del Signore
Published May 14, 2015
Modified May 14, 2015
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Gothamist
By
John Del Signore
Published May 14, 2015
Modified May 14, 2015
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Summer is fast approaching and with it comes the always pleasant realization that NYC does, in fact, have some pretty fantastic beaches. Are they worth schlepping to on the subway? Yes, they certainly can be! You may even be inclined to bicycle to them, or take a ferry, or email that car-owning friend you've been neglecting all winter. But if and when any of those transportation options fail, NYC Beach Bus is at your service.
Having won the beach bus battle against the now-defunct Rockabus (RIP), NYC Beach Bus is expanding its operations this summer. In addition to its regular weekend runs to Rockaway Beach (dropping off at Beach 95th Street this year) and nearby Jacob Riis, the company will be offering trips to Fire Island, Jones Beach, and Robert Moses. They're also offering beach chair and umbrella rentals at Jacob Riis ($10 for a chair, $5 for an umbrella). These are crazy times to be alive.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, Rockaway Beach and Jacob Riis Park buses will depart hourly from the Barclays Center and Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg; $10 one way and $14 round trip. The Fire Island, Robert Moses and Jones beach service starts June 21st with a 10 a.m. departure from Barclay Center and Union Square (14th & 3rd) and a 6 p.m. return from the beach. That will set you back $20 for one way and $30 for roundtrips. (NYC Beach bus estimates the Fire Island drive will take about an hour, and about 45 minutes to Jones Beach, depending on the traffic.)
Fire Island (Gothamist)
You can buy tickets in advance on the NYC Beach Bus website. Jacob Riis, by the way, is where Brooklyn Night Bazaar will be throwing free concerts on weekends, among other things.
As always, the buses roll with a cooler of complimentary Sixpoint beer, as well as Chameleon Cold Brew Coffee and Mamma Chia. But be advised that you will be boarding a school bus, not a charter bus, so try to travel somewhat light and don't be a person with long legs or an aversion to bumps.
Tagged
beaches
nyc beach bus
nyc beaches
service journalism
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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