{"id":242272,"date":"2026-05-24T09:43:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T09:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/242272\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T09:43:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T09:43:29","slug":"new-york-citys-ferry-system-is-on-a-tiktok-fueled-voyage-to-viral-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/242272\/","title":{"rendered":"New York City\u2019s Ferry System Is on a TikTok-Fueled Voyage to Viral Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/-1x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Video poster\" style=\"opacity:1;transition:opacity 0.5s ease;filter:blur(1px);image-rendering:pixelated\" class=\"ds-absolute ds-top-0 ds-left-0 ds-w-full ds-h-full ds-object-cover ds-z-10\"\/><\/p>\n<p>An NYC Ferry vessel heads across the East River, bound for landings in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Videographer: William Voermann<\/p>\n<p>The city-run fleet of ferryboats is seeing a surge of riders \u2014 and social media fame \u2014 as it tries to navigate NYC&#8217;s challenging commuting landscape.<\/p>\n<p>By Julia Press and Sarah Holder<\/p>\n<p>May 22, 2026 at 9:00 AM EDT<\/p>\n<p>The sun is still rising when Charles Rolling, an NYC Ferry captain, pulls out from Lower Manhattan\u2019s Pier 11 and heads up the East River. \u201cNew York\u2019s waterway is just like New York,\u201d Rolling says as he tunes out the radio chatter directing rush hour traffic on the water. \u201cIt\u2019s crowded, it\u2019s assertive. You gotta know what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This particular morning, the 58-year-old skipper is behind the helm of the Bay Hopper, one of 38 vessels in New York\u2019s municipal ferry fleet. (All were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferry.nyc\/blog\/ferry-names\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">named by second graders<\/a>; Rolling\u2019s favorite is Lunchbox.) Rolling often waves to his regulars from the wheelhouse, and recently passengers have started recognizing him, too \u2014 and not just for captaining their commute. That\u2019s because Rolling is a recurring star of the NYC Ferry\u2019s popular Instagram and TikTok accounts, which have more than 100,000 followers and nearly 2 million likes, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>In one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7260997736042925355?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">video<\/a>, ferry staff don cowboy hats with boat decals ahead of Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s Renaissance tour. In another, Rolling\u2019s ferry <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSUzgNGDsQa\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">races<\/a> a bicyclist from the Bronx to the Rockaways. There are clip-art <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DVyoLWDkYDK\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">calls to action<\/a> (\u201cIt\u2019s time for BOATMAXXING\u201d) and if-you-know-you-know internet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7629361985301286158?is_from_webapp=1&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">references<\/a>. The posts often anthropomorphize the watercraft \u2014 in a nod to the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/16\/nx-s1-5680084\/why-reliving-2016-is-the-new-social-media-trend\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">2016 flashback<\/a>\u201d trend, one appears in a Snapchat-style <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/photo\/7595639722647571767?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">photo<\/a> with the caption \u201cliterally being built rn lol\u201d \u2014 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7543704497101622583\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">celebrate<\/a> the real ferry-heads, who \u201cknow it is ALWAYS ferry season in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Weekday and Weekend Ridership Reach New Highs<\/p>\n<p class=\"css--toaster-subtitle ds-text-xms md:ds-text-xs lg:ds-text-sm ds-leading-tight ds-mt-0.5\">Average daily ridership per month<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/-1x-1.png\" alt=\"Chart\" class=\"ds-my-0 ds-mx-auto ds-w-full\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p> Source: Economic Development Corporation<\/p>\n<p>But like many social media stars, NYC Ferry has also had its haters.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the system, which the city\u2019s Economic Development Corporation has been running since its launch in 2017, have argued that it\u2019s more pleasure cruise than public utility. NYC Ferry\u2019s fare revenue doesn\u2019t come close to covering its costs, its ridership has yet to reach the levels that were originally projected, and its routes tend to favor the city\u2019s most affluent.<\/p>\n<p>But nearly a decade since the first city-run ferryboat set sail, the system has been working to win over skeptics. The service now spans 25 landings across all five boroughs. Ridership is up, especially on the weekdays, and costs per passenger have been trending down from pandemic-era peaks. By its own accounting, the city is subsidizing each ride less than ever.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"The view of a Waterway ferry with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"The view of a Waterway ferry with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ferries often negotiate challenging river traffic conditions. &#8220;New York&#8217;s waterway is just like New York,&#8221; a ferry captain says. &#8220;It&#8217;s crowded.&#8221; Photographer: William Voermann\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615805_201_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Commuters and tourists walking and purchasing tickets on a weekday morning at the Wall Street boat deck, in New York. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"Commuters and tourists walking and purchasing tickets on a weekday morning at the Wall Street boat deck, in New York. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Commuters and tourists on a recent weekday morning at the Pier 11\/Wall Street boat dock, in Manhattan. Photographer: Raph\u00e4el Gaultier\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615806_100_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"a crowd of passengers on the deck of the ferry. Manhattan bridge in the distance. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"a crowd of passengers on the deck of the ferry. Manhattan bridge in the distance. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>During the warmer months, ferry ridership swells on the weekends.  Photographer: William Voermann\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615806_937_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Boats from the NYC Ferry fleet on the river\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"Boats from the NYC Ferry fleet on the river\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The NYC Ferry fleet now includes 38 boats, all owned by the city.  Photographer: William Voermann\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p>And as other public ferry systems around the US struggle to recover post-Covid ridership and fight for federal funding, NYC Ferry is using its social media clout to convey this transit mode\u2019s more intangible value: It\u2019s fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the things that really differentiates us as a transit system in New York is how personable it feels,\u201d said Franky Ponce, the ferry\u2019s social media manager. \u201cQuite frankly, I think a lot of it, too, is the views are just so good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>New Yorkers have been getting around on watercraft for centuries, but as an official public transit service, NYC Ferry is barely a tween. Mayor Bill de Blasio pitched the idea for a modern municipal ferry in 2015; he saw it as a way to ease congestion, bring down traffic fatalities and provide an alternative to the beleaguered subway system.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe very much needed to get people out of their cars, and yet the number-one alternative was less and less reliable and losing the faith of the public,\u201d said de Blasio in a recent interview. \u201cWe needed a game changer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Watch: Has the NYC Ferry Righted the Ship?<\/p>\n<p>A ferry could also better connect Manhattan to what de Blasio described as the new gravitational center of 2015 New York: the east side of the East River, from Astoria, Queens, down to brownstone Brooklyn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u200aI had long believed we were not using our waterways the way we could,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I thought, why not here? Especially because it used to be true in New York City a hundred years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ferries were once the backbone of New York City\u2019s transportation infrastructure. For much of the 19th century, there were no bridges or tunnels crossing the East and Hudson rivers. Steam-powered boats \u201cplayed the initial role, and for a long time, they played the only role,\u201d in getting people from the island of Manhattan to New Jersey, Brooklyn or Queens, according to Brian Cudahy, author of Over and Back: The History of Ferryboats in NY Harbor.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615806_609_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"A ferryboat pulls out of the dock at the terminal near Battery Park in 1932, in New York.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"A ferryboat pulls out of the dock at the terminal near Battery Park in 1932, in New York.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Private and city-run ferries, like this one near Battery Park in 1932, have long been a part of the city&#8217;s transit mix. Photographer: FPG\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615806_51_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"A woman waits for a ferry to Manhattan circa 1905.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"A woman waits for a ferry to Manhattan circa 1905.\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A woman waits for a ferry to Manhattan circa 1905. New bridges and subway lines competed with ferryboats in the early 20th century.  Photographer: FPG\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>In his 1856 poem \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.poetryfoundation.org\/poems\/45470\/crossing-brooklyn-ferry\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Crossing Brooklyn Ferry<\/a>,\u201d Brooklyn-based Walt Whitman rhapsodized \u201cthe hundreds and hundreds that cross, returning home\u201d via boat. In Whitman\u2019s time, 70 different steam ferries plied Gotham\u2019s waters.<\/p>\n<p>By the early 1900s, though, ferries faced competition from the Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Manhattan and Queensboro bridges, as well as the newly built subway system. As private ferry operators saw profits evaporate, the city stepped in, taking over what would become the Staten Island Ferry in 1905 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archives.nyc\/blog\/2019\/7\/29\/ferries\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">then other routes<\/a>. It was one of New York City\u2019s first forays into truly public transit.<\/p>\n<p>But the golden age of these municipal ferries was short-lived. After the 1929 stock market crash, funding faltered. By 1955, only the Staten Island line remained under city control.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" classname=\"css--image\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615806_762_640x-1.jpg\"\/><img data-testid=\"_t_image_\"  data- alt=\"a black and white image of passengers aboard a ferry view the Manhattan skyline, circa 1941.\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css--image lazyload ds-p-0 ds-h-auto ds-object-center landscape:ds-p-0 landscape:ds-object-center\" draggable=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ferry passengers take in the sights of Manhattan in the early 1940s. Photographer: FPG\/Hulton Archive<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615807_891_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Passengers on a New York ferry in 1955\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"Passengers on a New York ferry in 1955\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>If you were riding a New York ferry in 1955, like these passengers, you better be wearing your fedora. Photographer: Arthur Swoger\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615807_895_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Staten Island Ferry station in New York, advertising a 5 cent fare, in 1969. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"The Staten Island Ferry station in New York, advertising a 5 cent fare, in 1969. \" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Staten Island Ferry&#8217;s famous nickel fare lasted from 1897 to 1972, when it was raised to 10 cents. Since 1997, the ferry has been free.  Photographer: Arthur Swoger\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>The stage for a public ferry comeback was set in the 2000s, as new Lower Manhattan parks brought foot traffic to the waterfront and residential growth soared in river-abutting neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Dumbo and Long Island City. Reviving a ferry system, the thinking went, would help the city capitalize on that, and in 2011, Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a pilot. (Bloomberg is also the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, parent company of Bloomberg News.)<\/p>\n<p>De Blasio wanted to go bigger. \u201c\u200aI thought this was a step towards an entirely different conception of mass transit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Compared to other New York transit offerings, the resurrected municipal ferry had a unique structure. Instead of a transportation agency, de Blasio put the city\u2019s Economic Development Corporation in charge of the new ferry system. The organization was already managing the city\u2019s piers and waterfront property development, and had overseen Bloomberg\u2019s ferry pilot. \u201cThey could blend it with their larger strategy for economic growth along that corridor,\u201d said de Blasio.<\/p>\n<p>Running the ferry through EDC had another advantage: Rather than relying on state and federal transportation funding, or elbowing its way onto the city budget each year, the nonprofit had its own pool of cash. It could use some of the extra revenue it generated from the rental properties it managed on the city\u2019s behalf to cover ferry operations. \u201cThere was more freedom of maneuver with EDC,\u201d the former mayor said.<\/p>\n<p>This model also set NYC apart from typical US public ferry systems, which rely heavily on farebox revenue or bridge tolls, along with state and federal support. The San Francisco Bay Ferry, for example, gets more than 70% of its operating revenue from tolls, another 20% from fares and the rest from state and local sources. \u201cI would dream of having the funding structure that NYC Ferry does,\u201d said Lauren Gularte, who manages government and regulatory affairs for the San Francisco Bay Ferry and chairs the national Public Ferry Coalition.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615807_559_-1x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Video poster\" style=\"opacity:1;transition:opacity 0.5s ease;filter:blur(1px);image-rendering:pixelated\" class=\"ds-absolute ds-top-0 ds-left-0 ds-w-full ds-h-full ds-object-cover ds-z-10\"\/><\/p>\n<p>For $4.50, ferry riders get first-class views of the Manhattan skyline.  Videographer: Suma Hussien<\/p>\n<p>While EDC determined fare policy and routes, it contracted with a private transportation and sightseeing company called Hornblower Group to operate the system and build a fleet of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/11\/21\/nyregion\/bayou-shipyards-race-political-clock-to-build-new-yorks-ferries.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">19 boats<\/a> from scratch. Under the terms of their contract, Hornblower would own the craft, while the city retained the right to buy them back eventually.<\/p>\n<p>Timothy O\u2019Brien, Hornblower\u2019s senior vice president for ferries and concessions, said the scale of New York\u2019s ambitions for a \u201cbrand new, startup ferry service\u201d was pretty unique.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe comparisons of naval wartime efforts to deliver vessels were made many times,\u201d said James Wong, NYC Ferry\u2019s executive director, who\u2019s been at EDC since 2014. Most of the aluminum-hulled boats, built for an average of $4 million each, were completed in 11 months, and in 2017, right on schedule, NYC Ferry <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/387720283\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">hit the water<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615807_356_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"NYC Ferry commuters line up for a ride in 2018\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"NYC Ferry commuters line up for a ride in 2018\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>NYC Ferry commuters line up for a ride in 2018, one year after the city-run service launched. Photographer: David Williams\/Redux<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615808_551_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Two women stand on a ferry talking to each other with the Manhattan skyline in the background\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"Two women stand on a ferry talking to each other with the Manhattan skyline in the background\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Early ridership was high, but so were the costs of subsidizing the ferry service.  Photographer: David Williams\/Redux<\/p>\n<p>At first, the city set fares at $2.75 for a single ride \u2014 same as a subway swipe \u2014 in an effort to build ridership. In its first seven months, the system transported over <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/images.ferry.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/24130300\/NYCF_PressKit-Mar-2023.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">3 million riders<\/a>, about 33% higher than projected, on routes connecting Bay Ridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Wall Street to Astoria and the Rockaways.<\/p>\n<p>By 2019, an average of 16,000 people were riding the ferry on weekdays. Hornblower was hard at work doubling the city\u2019s fleet to 38 boats, and the city had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecity.nyc\/2019\/04\/02\/city-hall-s-369-million-riverboat-gamble-on-ferries\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">a plan<\/a> to purchase the vessels for more than $230 million. But fares were covering less than 20% of the system\u2019s operating costs, according to figures from the National Transit Database. And critics took notice.<\/p>\n<p>That year, the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan financial watchdog, published <a href=\"https:\/\/cbcny.org\/research\/swimming-subsidies\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">a report<\/a> titled \u201cSwimming in Subsidies.\u201d They found that the city was paying the equivalent of $10.73 to cover the price of each ferry ride \u2014 far higher than the $6.60 subsidy rate the de Blasio administration originally projected. The rate was also ten times higher than the city\u2019s subway and bus network.<\/p>\n<p>There was an \u201cimbalance between a system that had very high operating costs and very low fares,\u201d said Sean Campion, who authored the Citizens Budget Commission report. Public ferries in San Francisco were charging more than two and a half times NYC Ferry\u2019s fare for their cheapest rides in 2019, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/cbcny.org\/research\/nyc-ferry-comparative-analysis\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">CBC analysis<\/a>; Boston and Washington State\u2019s baseline fares were nearly a dollar more.<\/p>\n<p>NYC Ferry Subsidies Drop as Ridership and Revenue Grow<\/p>\n<p class=\"css--toaster-subtitle ds-text-xms md:ds-text-xs lg:ds-text-sm ds-leading-tight ds-mt-0.5\">Subsidy per trip for select passenger ferries and NYC-area public transit systems<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615808_18_-1x-1.png\" alt=\"Chart\" class=\"ds-my-0 ds-mx-auto ds-w-full\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Note: Numbers may slightly differ from each agency&#8217;s financial reports Source: National Transit Database<\/p>\n<p>The Covid-19 pandemic added to NYC Ferry\u2019s financial woes; as commuters and tourists stayed home, ridership collapsed and the per-rider subsidy spiked.<\/p>\n<p>Critics also pointed out that compared to other transit options, NYC Ferry routes privileged wealthier neighborhoods and riders. A 2019 <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/www.ferry.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/NYC-Ferry-Summer-2019-Survey-Results.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">survey<\/a> found passengers had a median income of $75,000\u2013$99,999, compared to the <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/ibo.nyc.ny.us\/iboreports\/highlights-from-ibos-updated-tables-on-new-york-city-residents-income-and-income-tax-liability-nycbtn-november-2021.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">city median of under $38,000<\/a>. Speaking to press at a 2019 city council hearing, then-Brooklyn councilmember Antonio Reynoso <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7ny.com\/post\/high-cost-of-providing-nyc-ferry-service-discussed-at-hearing\/5256186\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">put it bluntly<\/a>: \u201cAre we giving $10 per ride to someone that doesn\u2019t need the help?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wong said holding the ferry\u2019s per-rider costs up to the subway\u2019s is like comparing apples to oranges: \u201cThey have a scale that we\u2019re never going to try to meet.\u201d In NYC Ferry\u2019s first full year of operation, it transported fewer people than New York\u2019s subway did in a day. The subways and buses also cost <a href=\"https:\/\/metrics.mta.info\/?operatingbudget\/operatingexpenses\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">about $10 billion<\/a> to operate in 2019, compared to the almost <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/edc.nyc\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-11\/NYCEDC-NYCFerry-Supplemental-Financial-Information-FY19-23.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">$82 million<\/a> EDC reported spending on the ferry that year.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Wong said, getting that subsidy-per-rider number down was \u201ccritically important.\u201d It had become shorthand for measuring the transit mode\u2019s value.<\/p>\n<p>Some transit advocates say it shouldn\u2019t be. SF Bay Ferry\u2019s Gularte says ferries look better if you measure efficiency by cost per passenger mile. And Ben Furnas,  executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, points out that cars aren\u2019t held to the same standard. \u201cPeople don\u2019t talk about our road system as a per-rider subsidy,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s sort of just assumed that a road network that allows private automobiles to drive on it is a public good.\u201d Similarly, ferry service can bring social and economic benefits, he stressed, spurring \u201cinvestment and new businesses and new homes and new relationships\u201d along each route.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the boat service has been both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.6sqft.com\/new-commute-new-demand-nyc-ferry-fuels-housing-boom-on-the-waterfront\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">thanked<\/a> and blamed for boosting waterfront housing prices. Research <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2667091722000309\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">has shown<\/a> that while property values near ferry landings rose after the launch of NYC Ferry, these stops also tend to be slated for areas that are already experiencing economic growth.<\/p>\n<p>Eric Goldwyn, the director of the transportation and land use program at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, notes that when it comes to expanding transit access, ferries have other potential advantages. Compared to a new subway or train line, infrastructure needs are modest and require less community buy-in. New York\u2019s Second Avenue subway extension, for example, is costing an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/2026-nyc-ferry-fame\/bbg:\/\/news\/stories\/RQJHS4T1UM0W\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">estimated $2.5 billion a mile<\/a>, and a plan to build a new line connecting Brooklyn and Queens is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/2026-nyc-ferry-fame\/bbg:\/\/news\/stories\/T746G9KGCTGK\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">hitting<\/a> some public resistance. In comparison, Goldwyn said, \u201cthese waterways look wide open.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" classname=\"css--image\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; width: 100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615808_543_640x-1.jpg\"\/><img data-testid=\"_t_image_\"  data- alt=\"Charles Rolling, a NYC Ferry captain, looks out the window from his seat\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css--image lazyload ds-p-0 ds-h-auto ds-object-center landscape:ds-p-0 landscape:ds-object-center\" draggable=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Charles Rolling, a NYC Ferry captain, begins his shift. Some passengers recognize him from his appearances in the ferry&#8217;s social media feed.  Photographer: Raph\u00e4el Gaultier\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615808_385_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"a hand reaching into blue ferry ticket machine\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"a hand reaching into blue ferry ticket machine\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ferry fares have gone up from $2.75 at launch to the current $4.50. Photographer: Raph\u00e4el Gaultier\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615809_174_640x-1.jpg\" alt=\"a map of the new york city ferry routes\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block no-blur\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><img  alt=\"a map of the new york city ferry routes\" class=\"css--multi-image ds-w-full ds-h-auto ds-block lazyload filter-blur ds-filter-blur\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The NYC Ferry system has been adding routes and landings, too. Photographer: Raph\u00e4el Gaultier\/Bloomberg<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, the NYC comptroller\u2019s office entered the chat with an <a href=\"https:\/\/comptroller.nyc.gov\/reports\/audit-report-on-the-new-york-city-economic-development-corporations-administration-of-the-nyc-ferry-operation\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">audit<\/a> finding that EDC had underreported its ferry-related expenditures by more than $224 million since 2015, and had made several decisions that were \u201cnot financially prudent,\u201d like overpaying Hornblower for ferry vessels by tens of millions of dollars and overcompensating them for fares. The audit recommended that EDC claw back $12 million from Hornblower, something EDC didn\u2019t pursue. \u201cWalt Whitman waxed poetic about New York City\u2019s ferries, but EDC\u2019s responsibility is to provide adequate oversight and report accurately,\u201d Brad Lander, then the city\u2019s comptroller, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/comptroller.nyc.gov\/newsroom\/comptroller-audit-finds-edc-underreported-the-costs-of-nyc-ferry-system-by-224-million-from-2015-to-2021\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>EDC defended its spending decisions, saying all payments to Hornblower were \u201cin accordance with the contract,\u201d and said that it believed the audit misrepresented data. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/features\/2026-nyc-ferry-fame\/bbg:\/\/news\/stories\/REMA7TDWRGG0\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">comments<\/a> at the time, a Hornblower spokesperson stressed that the comptroller had not accused the operator of violating its contract.<\/p>\n<p>The audit was nevertheless a wake-up call. \u201cThere was an acknowledgement that, yes, regardless of what this audit says, when we look at our own numbers, things were getting expensive,\u201d Wong said.<\/p>\n<p>The city\u2019s soul-searching came at a somewhat opportune moment: EDC\u2019s contract with Hornblower was set to expire in 2023, and the organization was ready to rework the terms of the deal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were growing fast,\u201d Wong said, \u201cand there was a pivot that we made really through the last administration to say, before we grow more, we have to fix the inside of the systems from the ground up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, after a competitive bidding process, EDC again chose Hornblower as its operator but with a new contract under different terms. The contract with Hornblower, which is now owned by a private equity company after filing for bankruptcy a few years ago, is locked in at least until 2028, with the option to extend it up to six more years. The city now owns the ferry fleet, which should save the city money in the long run, said the Citizens Budget Commission\u2019s Campion.<\/p>\n<p>Another key to the turnaround plan was to lean into the ferry\u2019s secret weapon: being a remarkably pleasant way of getting around. As one TikTok <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7508818527575477550?is_from_webapp=1&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">video<\/a> put it, \u201cNYC Ferry is essentially a public yacht that goes from island to island.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>EDC decided to reassess fares accordingly. It increased the cost of a one-way ticket first to $4, and in the fall of 2024, to $4.50. Specialty trips, like summer service to Rockaway Beach, offer $12 premium fares with reserved seats and priority boarding. The system still offers a 10-trip value pack for $29, which comes out to ten cents less than a subway swipe after the MTA\u2019s latest fare hike. Students, seniors, and people with disabilities qualify for additional discounts.<\/p>\n<p>The idea is to keep costs low for commuters while capitalizing on the fact that non-commuters, tourists and joyriders make up nearly two-thirds of passengers, according to EDC\u2019s latest <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/images.ferry.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/22143758\/2024NYCFSurvey.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">survey<\/a> from the fall of 2024. \u201cOur lived experience is that yes, commuters rely on this every single weekday. But I\u2019m not going to pretend that we don\u2019t also have a lot of people who are here for a recreational visit,\u201d Wong said. \u201cWe\u2019re willing to let people who are riding for more of a recreational trip pay more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615809_936_-1x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Video poster\" style=\"opacity:1;transition:opacity 0.5s ease;filter:blur(1px);image-rendering:pixelated\" class=\"ds-absolute ds-top-0 ds-left-0 ds-w-full ds-h-full ds-object-cover ds-z-10\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On sunny days, floating to work beats an underground subway ride.  Videographer: William Voermann<\/p>\n<p>In April, a blast of summer-like temperatures hit the East Coast, and with the sun came the ferry fans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re soooooo back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">@NYC Ferry<\/a>,\u201d wrote one<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@loganpastareadsandwrites\/video\/7628386574455082271?is_from_webapp=1&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> TikToker<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@fareesaa\/video\/7629248271906589966?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Another<\/a> compared her ride to \u201ca mini vacation.\u201d Her video received more than 10,000 likes. Offering a weekday happy hour at its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7384133878870576427?is_from_webapp=1&amp;web_id=7418671620422092318\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">onboard bar<\/a> and epic views of the skyline, NYC Ferry does its best to live up to that reputation.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the popular videos on its own TikTok account tap into this wow factor, featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7526992168066616589\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">dolphin-spotting<\/a> on a passage to the Rockaways and a twilit view of the Brooklyn Bridge (captioned \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nyc_ferry\/video\/7554775374962412855\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">girl whatever<\/a>\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>When Ponce was hired as Hornblower\u2019s social media manager in late 2022, the ferry\u2019s online presence was, as he described it, \u201cvery service-focused.\u201d He decided to infuse the accounts with more personality, tap into the zeitgeist, and feature more crew members. <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/images.ferry.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/30122917\/FY-2025-Report.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Per EDC<\/a>, Dash Social Analytics data shows the ferry\u2019s accounts got 14.7 million impressions on social media in 2025 alone.<\/p>\n<p>Hornblower has also started partnering with brands, hosting an event with Smurfette to promote the 2025 Smurfs movie and inviting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/06\/16\/food\/fudgie-the-whale-carvel-history\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Fudgie the Whale<\/a>, of Carvel ice cream cake fame, aboard to offer free soft serve. EDC splits the revenue from these marketing activations with Hornblower; last year, the organization picked up around $320,000.<\/p>\n<p>Whether Smurfette is getting people to buy a ticket is hard to track. But Wong sees the ferry\u2019s social media persona as an important part of its ridership strategy. That, and doing what any public transit system has to: running frequent, reliable service where people want to go. \u201c\u200aCan we control ridership? Not directly, but we can control how convenient it is,\u201d he said. NYC Ferry boats are almost always on time, which sure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osc.ny.gov\/press\/releases\/2025\/09\/dinapoli-report-identifies-trends-causes-subway-delays#:~:text=The%20report%20also%20calls%20on%20the%20MTA,been%20385%20major%20incidents%20through%20June%202025\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">beats<\/a> the subway (though on some East River stops, headways can be up to 25 minutes during peak service hours). EDC recently redesigned routes to make getting to Midtown more efficient for commuters, and getting to the Rockaways better for beachgoers.<\/p>\n<p>By many metrics, all these post-pandemic efforts to \u201cright the ship,\u201d as Wong put it, are working. NYC Ferry is now the third-largest municipal ferry system by passenger volume in the US, trailing only the free Staten Island Ferry and the Washington State system (which also carries cars). And while those systems haven\u2019t yet recovered their pre-pandemic ridership, the 7.4 million passengers NYC Ferry carried last year represents a gain of over 30% since 2019. (The system still hasn\u2019t reached the 11 million annual riders <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferry.nyc\/blog\/nyc-ferry-service-to-expand-to-staten-island-coney-island-the-west-side-of-manhattan-and-the-east-bronx\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">projected<\/a> pre-pandemic.)<\/p>\n<p>Though operating costs have gone up due in part to rising fuel prices, the system has still been able to push down the per-rider subsidy to $8.33, according to EDC\u2019s <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/edc.nyc\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-10\/NYCEDC-NYCFerry-Supplemental-Financial-Information-FY21-25.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">latest figures<\/a>. As of 2024, the last year with comprehensive national data available, NYC Ferry had the lowest subsidy of any major municipal passenger ferry in the US. The EDC\u2019s goal is to reduce it by another dollar by 2028.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on NYC Ferry\u2019s impact so far, former mayor de Blasio said this first decade has just been \u201cact one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The waterfront is hotter than ever: Red Hook is poised for an EDC-led <a href=\"chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/edc.nyc\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-10\/NYCEDC-Brooklyn-Marine-Terminal-Vision-Plan-09-30-2025.pdf\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">redevelopment<\/a>, and neighborhoods like Greenpoint and Williamsburg <a href=\"https:\/\/gothamist.com\/news\/what-nycs-next-mayor-can-learn-from-greenpoints-rezoning-20-years-ago\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">just keep growing<\/a>. New landings are planned for East Harlem and Sunset Park, and in late April, a group of city lawmakers proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/world-cup-matches-metlife-ferry-harlem-nyc-nj\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">adding service from West Harlem<\/a> to accommodate World Cup fans heading to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. EDC said it appreciates the proposal and \u201cwill evaluate it thoroughly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779615809_867_-1x-1.jpg\" alt=\"Video poster\" style=\"opacity:1;transition:opacity 0.5s ease;filter:blur(1px);image-rendering:pixelated\" class=\"ds-absolute ds-top-0 ds-left-0 ds-w-full ds-h-full ds-object-cover ds-z-10\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Passengers disembark on the Hunter&#8217;s Point South ferry landing in Queens. Operators expect the World Cup to bring extra crowds this summer.  Videographer: William Voermann<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an increase in ferry service on May 19 to support the summer influx of tourists. \u201cThe world is coming to New York City \u2014 and New York City is ready,\u201d he said in a statement. Mamdani is known for being <a data-terminal=\"NSN SYTPG7DWLU68\" data-terminal-type=\"STORY\" data-terminal-value=\"SYTPG7DWLU68\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2025-07-03\/mamdani-s-free-nyc-buses-promise-could-come-with-transit-trade-offs\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mamdani&#039;s Free NYC Buses Promise Could Come With Transit Trade-Offs\">more of a bus guy<\/a>, but a City Hall spokesperson said that the mayor sees NYC Ferry playing \u201can important role in the transit ecosystem of the city\u201d and is exploring how areas underserved by public transit could be better connected by waterways.<\/p>\n<p>As NYC Ferry maps its expansion, advocates say it should take social factors into account. Canarsie, Brooklyn, has been asking for ferry service for years, says Tyler Taba, director of policy and government affairs for the Waterfront Alliance. Why not add a stop there, or run a line from LaGuardia Airport to the Bronx, where many airport employees live? \u201cThat could be a really easy way to bring people to and from work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to increasing access, Taba said, ferries can offer transit redundancy in emergencies \u2014 as the city saw on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.workboat.com\/remembering-9\/11-calling-all-boats\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">9\/11<\/a>, when an armada of tugs, ferries and sightseeing boats evacuated people trapped on the southern tip of Manhattan after the terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n<p>But right now, transit advocates say the ferry\u2019s usefulness remains limited by its lack of connection with the city\u2019s broader public transit network. Landings tend to be distant from bus and subway stations; tickets are bought on a separate platform from the MTA\u2019s other modes, and there are no free transfers. \u201cYou want to have that multimodal connection,\u201d said NYU\u2019s Goldwyn. \u201cWe have not figured that part out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a geographical disconnect that reflects a broader conceptual gulf, according to Taba. \u201cFor a city of 520 miles of coastline, we don\u2019t see ourselves as that waterfront city,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ponce says he\u2019s trying to change that, bringing \u201cthe waterways into the New York storyline,\u201d post by post.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI promise,\u201d he said, \u201cit\u2019s as good onboard as it is on social.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 With assistance from Marie Patino, Sophie Butcher<\/p>\n<p>More On Bloomberg<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An NYC Ferry vessel heads across the East River, bound for landings in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Videographer:&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":242273,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[128,98,5869,75,94746,9,2223,56,63,65,64,94745,14965,94744,42631],"class_list":["post-242272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-bronx","tag-brooklyn","tag-citylab","tag-manhattan","tag-mar","tag-new-york","tag-nj","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-nycommute","tag-nys","tag-staten-queens","tag-trn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242272"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242272\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}