Published: March, 2000 There is good news and there is bad news for ferry advocates made anxious by charges that ferries damage the environment. The good news is that the environmentalist leading the charge against ferries now believes that “it’s possible that San Francisco will one day have the worlds biggest, and “greenest” ferry system, […]
Author: BAY CROSSINGS STAFF REPORT
Are Ferries Environmentally Friendly? Without a Doubt.
BY JIM SWEENEY Published: March, 2000 Last July, when expanded ferry service was being proposed by the Bay Area Council, Russell Long, Executive Director of Bluewater Network, issued the "Bay Area Transit Options Emission Report" on the internet. This Report raises speculative concerns that are backed up by an impressive array of data tables, bar […]
Ferries of the world
Published: March, 2000 It’s a relaxing and pleasurable cruise across Cook Strait and through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. The journey covers a distance of 52 nautical miles. The Interislander is 148 meters long and carries up to 975 passengers, 126 cars and 60 railcars at once. During the summer season, a fast ferry called the […]
Riders of the Tides
Published: February, 2000 This inaugural commentary reminds me of other firsts in my life: the first time I went to school, my first solo, my first kiss, my first love, my — uh oh, I think this is going in the wrong direction. The first time I rode a ferry (yes, that’s better) was on […]
Recollections of a Tule Sailor
Published: February, 2000 John Leale was at the helm of San Francisco ferryboats for 41 years, from 1873 to 1914, the Golden Age of ferries on the Bay. He was in his prime as ferry service reached its zenith in the late 1800’s and played an important role in the relief effort after the Great […]
Powers of
Published: February, 2000 Guns, tanks, and bombs were the principal weapons of World War II, but there were other, subtler, forms of warfare as well. Words, posters, and films waged a constant battle for the hearts and minds of the American citizenry just as surely as military weapons engaged the enemy. Persuading the American public […]
Governor Gray Davis proposes
Published: February, 2000 The $12 million is included as a line item in the Governor's proposed budget for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the 2000-2001 Fiscal Year. Provided it is approved by the State Legislature, this funding will enable the new Water Transit Authority to begin the detailed technical work necessary to complete […]
Friends of a Regional Ferry System a Success Story
Published: February, 2000 All 15,000 copies of the group’s first issue of Bay Crossings were snapped up in under a week. A companion web site, www.baycrossings.org, received thousands of visitors, many of whom became members by signing up online. Many calls and letters have also been received offering support, encouragement and articles for future issues. […]
How the Commuters Saved the Vallejo Ferry
Published: February, 2000 These days, Vallejo ferry service is an unquestioned success story. Fast, modern ferryboats full to the brim with contented commuters speed between San Francisco and Vallejo every day. A beautiful terminal at the Vallejo end, seamless bus connections all the way to Sacramento, a state-of-the-art web site that even lets you track […]
Berkeley Ferry – A Grass-roots Success Story
Published: February, 2000 "Quake riders" in Berkeley did more than just ride the ferry, they helped make it a reality.