Two Bay Area companies are set to begin competing in a choppy marketplace: Shuttling well-heeled clients around the blustery waters of San Francisco Bay.
After years of studies and hiccups selecting vendors, the Port Commission Tuesday approved five-year contracts with two firms to provide water taxi services to and between waterfront locations in San Francisco.
Sausalito-based Tideline expects to launch today its first 12-passenger boat carrying passengers to and from the San Francisco watefront and lower Marin County.
Published Tideline fares start at $30 between the Ferry Terminal and AT&T Park, and climb to $102.25 for a trip between AT&T and Sausalito. Trips must be pre-arranged either by telephone or via their website.
San Francisco Water Taxi, on the other hand, expects to offer more informal service between Hyde Street Harbor, Pier 1-1/2, and South Beach Harbor. Owner Dave Thomas told The Ex he hopes to carry their first passengers sometime in October:
“I always felt there was a reason we did not have this here. I couldn’t understand why.”
Water taxis are popular in many European cities, though their use in the United States has been limited.
New York City has had a fun, hop-on, hop-off water taxi providing service to Manhattan’s West Side and Brooklyn since 2002. New Yorkers get a full day of riding on the water — aboard bright-yellow boats, no less — for just $26.
Both Bay Area outfits likely hope a swell of attention toward America’s Cup and the waterfront in 2013 will buoy their business models and establish demand for their pricey yet distinctive service.
Last modified September 14, 2012 1:45 am
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