In comparison to many of the rail proposals which have taken years or decades to plan, fund and construct, ferry lines can be established relatively quickly, do not require a right of way to be pieced together by buying up land and exercising eminent domain. It just requires ports to be established at key points around the city. In many cases, the ferry is not only an energy saver, but it also significantly shortens trip length by avoiding bridge bottlenecks.

Ferries are also just pleasant to ride since they are much more spacious than buses or trains and they offer riders fantastic views of the city skyline.

But ferries do need a mass ridership to breakeven and without the critical mass transportation links on both sides, they will never become popular modes of transportation. Both sides of the Staten Island Ferry are a model of great transportation links, although it could run more frequently to reduce trip times. NJ seems to be doing it's part to link rail to ferries. How about NY? How about some good transportation on the other side and how about some more East River ferries too!

Read what congressman Weiner has to say about ferries:

If the last year hasn’t persuaded you that we need to start using ferries more in New York, you haven’t been paying attention. Each transit emergency – the Roosevelt Island tram, the crippling transit worker strike, the terrorist attack against London’s underground, the track fire that knocked out major parts of the A and C train service - reminds us that we need to begin to do what practically every other water borne major city has done – get on the boats. A fleet of ferries and a collection of landings would provide redundancy and security on bad days and ease traffic and smog everyday. Ok, we get the message. Now let’s act.

Yeah, action sounds good. How about a little experimentation, a little testing of new ideas, a little long range planning? How about it Mike (Bloomberg), Dan (Doctoroff) and Iris (Weinshall)? Let's start taking some action.