The Staten Island Ferry is the most popular ferry service offered in New York City. The service runs between Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry leaves from the tip of Manhattan, and also departs from St. George Ferry Terminal. The ferry runs 365 days per year, all day long, giving commuters a reliable way to get across the city.
It is the most dependable form of transit in the city, and has an average operating time of 96 percent. It first began running in 1905, and yearly carries over 21 million people.
The complete journey from Manhattan to Staten Island is 5.2 miles long, and takes approximately half an hour each way. At one point, riders had to pay to use the ferry service, but today the service is completely free. The only hang up is that riders must go back through the terminal building in order to go round trip. This is done to ensure that the ferry complies with regulations that were set by the Coast Guard.
Previously, vehicles were allowed to ride on the ferry at a cost of $3 per vehicle. Today, vehicles are not allowed on the ferry following the September 11th attacks. Officials cited security reasons when making the decision.
For most of its existence, the ferry charged commuters five cents to ride. This was in line with the cost of the subway at that time. However, in 1948, the subway increased their fare to 10 cents, and the Staten Island Ferry service remained at a nickel. In 1975, the fare was changed to 25 cents are it was revealed that the service was bleeding money, as it cost them 50 cents to send each commuter round trip. For much of its life, the ferry was known as the biggest bargain in commuting across the city.
Today, the Staten Island ferry carries over 75,000 each day over the course of 104 boat trips. During the peak hours, the ferries leave each departure zone every 15 to 20 minutes. During slow hours, a new ferry will leave the dock once every 30 minutes, and at night, the ferry leaves once per hour.
Many sightseers chose to take a trip on the Staten Island Ferry, as the transit provides a lot of great sights. The Staten Island Ferry terminal that is located at South Ferry in Lower Manhattan is one of the most popular tourist attractions. There, a great view of Manhattan can be seen from the deck of the ferry.
Throughout its life, the Staten Island Ferry has provided commuters with reliable, quick transit across the city. Today, it is used by over twenty million passengers per year. The location has been featured in a number of movies and television shows including “The Dark Knight,” “World Trade Center,” and “Wall Street.” The Staten Island Ferry is a staple of the city and a necessity for many who live in it.
