While “Dry January” may still be a trend with traction in the San Francisco Bay Area, the region’s ferry system is launching a new counter to boring sobriety this month by fully restoring staffed concessions on all routes – including adult beverages.
This means eye openers for morning commuters and pre-game cocktails for the return trip.
At same time, the free coffee program – instituted to attract passengers during the COVID-19 era – is being discontinued.
Cheers to that, for it reflects a new era of increased ridership on the most beautiful of all transport modes in the region.
Approximately 2.6 million people rode the San Francisco Bay Ferry in 2024, 16% more than in the previous year, according to data released by the transit agency Jan 6.
An average of 7,148 passengers used SF Bay Ferry daily last year, reflecting a 90% recovery of daily ridership numbers before the pandemic, according to the agency.
During the second half of 2024, ridership rose to 97% of pre-pandemic levels, data show.
Gains in ridership were experienced in several areas, including a 14% growth during the peak morning commute from 2023 to 2024, a 12% increase in weekend ridership and at least a 10% growth year over year on all transbay routes.