San Francisco Bay Ferry carried 2.6 million passengers in 2024, a 16 percent increase over 2023. Last year’s average daily ridership of 7,148 passengers achieved 90 percent of pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Over the last six months of 2024, SF Bay Ferry ridership reached 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels, according to the agency.
Peak morning commute ridership grew 14 percent compared to 2023. Weekend ridership also grew by 12 percent and was 115 percent of 2019 levels. All transbay routes experienced at least 10 percent year-over-year ridership growth.
The Richmond and Harbor Bay routes experienced 20 percent annual growth in 2024. Richmond enjoyed an augmented schedule and also promotions such as Free Fridays and complementary coffee last year.
Jim Wunderman, chair of the SF Bay Ferry Board of Directors, credited the agency’s decisions to adopt competitive fares and to augment schedules for the strong ridership numbers.
“We’re encouraged by the growth and expect to continue the upswing in 2025,” Wunderman said.
SF Bay Ferry launched three pilot services in 2024: The Redwood City Ballpark Pilot, the Sea Change Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Project, and the Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle. These pilot services carried a combined 55,000 passengers in 2024.