A Month in, What's it Like Commuting From the Rockaways on a Boat?

Today marks one month since New York City started running regular ferry service from Wall Street to Sunset Park and the Rockaways. Now, a South Brooklyn route is available. An Astoria line will start August 1.

Pat Hickey, who lives in the Rockaways and commutes to lower Manhattan, hasn't gotten past the initial excitement.

"You get to see Coney Island, you get to see the Verrazano Bridge," she said. "I take pictures every day and send them to people, saying 'look where I am!'"

NYC Ferry, which is run by the cruise line Hornblower and charges $2.75 a ride, said ridership in May was much higher than expected. When ferry service ran to the Rockaways post-Sandy, about 3,000 passengers took the boat each week. Last month, weekly ridership was over 11,000.

If it sounds like a pleasure cruise for commuters, that's also part of the problem. Each boat only carries 149 people, and rush hour ferries have been filling up, leaving people stranded on the dock. NYC Ferry said it plans to run more boats during peak hours.

William Matthiessen, a student at Xavier High School in Manhattan, said that compared to the subway, the ferry is "nicer, cleaner, and you can take out your computer and get homework done." He said it gets crowded whenever the temperature breaks 70. But, he added, his school ends next week, and he already lives at the beach — so his commute will be put on hold until the fall.