Want To Avoid Looong Bus Lines? Take East River Ferry To NYC…

Columbia Heightster offers this helpful comment in our Transportation Drama Open Thread: “I made it to midtown via the East River Ferry. There’s no schedule, just a continuous circulation of boats. From DUMBO, it first goes south to Wall Street, then up to North Williamsburg. At North Williamsburg, there is a free transfer to a different boat that takes you to 34th St. Door to door was about 1hr 30min, but it was organized & civilized. $4 each way, free transfer. Sounds like a much better option than the Bridge Buses.”

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  • Rachel

    I took the ferry from BBP yesterday. It was GREAT going into the city. the total opposite of the Jay street shuttle nightmare. However, coming back did not work out so well. The last boat is at about 615 and by about 530, the lines were so long at 34th street that they had to send people away. If you decide to take this route home, I’d leave early.

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    I took it again today, and because so many people were going to midtown, they eliminated the transfer. Went straight from DUMBO to Wall Street to 34th. I almost feel guilty that I’m having such a painless commute. Not sure that they’ll continue that, but it made a lot of people very happy this morning.

  • Wrennie

    Has anyone used the ferry bus across 34th Street? I’ve heard about it but have never used it.

  • http://selfabsorbedboomer.blogspot.com Claude Scales

    If you take the ferry to 34th Street, there’s a free shuttle bus that goes across 34th to 6th Avenue, up 6th to 48th Street, across 48th to Lexington, and down Lex to 34th. It will let you off, or pick you up if you’re going to the ferry, at any city bus stop along that route. It’s very handy if you work in Midtown.

  • Public Servant

    My girlfriend took it today, she said it was a very easy ride and recommends it for Brooklynites going to midtown. Much better than the Jay Street bus situation.

  • Eileen

    The East River ferry website notes that the shuttle at 34th St runs during rush hours only, Monday through Friday only. Here’s the link: http://www.nywaterway.com/EastRiverManhattanBusRoute.aspx

  • Marisa

    i took it today and they skipped the transfer – we went straight from wall street to 34th street. It was fantastic!

  • gc

    Anyone know what the explosions are we’ve been hearing for the past 20 minutes?

  • Teddy

    @gc

    Just heard on the news that they’re controlled explosions of damaged ammunition and explosives on Ellis Island. Just another day in the city.

  • gc

    Thanks Teddy