Something seemed unusual during DJ JP Breganza’s set (opens in new tab). Dozens of people bobbed their heads to “Anti” by Vallejo-based hip-hop group SOB X RBE, but the rows of support pillars and bright overhead lights didn’t belong at a nightclub. Only when the camera cut back to Breganza did it click: The party was taking place on a commuter ferry.

It was a strange idea. But it worked.

“Everyone was just so down for it right away,” Breganza said. “Even the employees were smiling, having a good time, dancing and singing along with us.”

While BART, Muni, and Caltrain face massive budget shortfalls and looming service cuts as commuter traffic still sits below pre-pandemic levels, the San Francisco Bay Ferry has more passengers than before the pandemic. But it’s not because more people are commuting on the ferry — weekday ridership is still below 2019 levels. Instead, the double-decker boats are drawing new riders, tourists, and ballgame fans on the weekend with reduced fares, live music, and a more pleasant, quiet way to cross the Bay.

Those who ride the ferry during the week often do so because there’s no traffic, and it feels safe and clean. On the weekends, though, others said that compared to BART or driving, the ferry is like a cruise ship. 

Mattias Dahlstrom said he was riding Saturday to explore the Bay Area. He’s lived in Mountain View for 13 years and had only ever driven to Vallejo — most recently for the Maker Faire (opens in new tab) on Mare Island in September. The drive is faster, he said, but it’s not as nice as the ferry.

“It’s fast, it’s comfortable, it’s a fantastic view,” he said.

Ferdinand Gawaran said he doesn’t ride often, but that coming into San Francisco by boat costs about the same as driving in from his home in Vallejo. For him, it’s a no-brainer.

“This has always been my first choice, because even the weekend traffic is crazy,” he said.

Ridership on the ferry service connecting San Francisco to Vallejo and the East Bay was 6% above pre-pandemic levels from July 1, 2025, through April 29. Weekday ridership was down roughly 4.9%, from 9,560 to 9,094 passengers, but weekend ridership has surged 65.1% from 4,492 to 7,418. The most popular weekend route is the ferry connecting San Francisco with Oakland and Alameda.

The Golden Gate Ferry, which brings people to the city from Larkspur, Tiburon, and Angel Island, hasn’t rebounded as strongly. While its service for Giants games is improving, ridership remains at 68% of pre-pandemic levels.

This stands in stark contrast to BART and Muni. BART has historically relied on weekday commuters, and with remote work seemingly here to stay, weekday ridership in March was about 49% of 2019 levels — though weekend ridership has recovered to 87%. Muni’s weekend ridership has fully bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, but its weekday ridership is still at 80% of 2019.

Passengers riding the ferry Monday gave similar reasons for choosing the boat over BART or driving: no traffic, a feeling of safety, and unbeatable views.

Isabella Haberman, 26, takes the ferry five days a week to get from SF to her marketing job in Oakland and, once to twice a month takes it there on the weekend. She said she switched from BART this year because the Ferry Building terminal is easier to get to from her Marina apartment. Riding the ferry feels less cramped than the train. Plus, on the weekend, she likes to grab a snack or drink from the ferry’s bar while heading to Oakland — she’s partial to Golden State Cider’s Mighty Dry.

“It’s just more about ease and comfortability,” Haberman said. “I’m just more relaxed.”

Maria Pinto, 35, who lives in Oakland and works at a San Francisco waterproofing consulting company, said she started taking the ferry to work in October after incidents on BART made her feel unsafe. She said a woman once tried to flick a lighter in her face and a man swung at her with a piece of cardboard after her bike light shined in his face. 

“That was scary,” she said.

Since making the switch to the ferry, Pinto has had no safety concerns, she said, plus she has 30 minutes each way to get some work done, something she couldn’t do on the train, which doesn’t have tables.

SF Bay Ferry’s recovery has been years in the making. In 2021 the agency reduced fares (opens in new tab) to become more competitive with BART and Muni, slashing routes like Richmond and Vallejo by up to 36% and Oakland by roughly 20%. Even with fare hikes in 2024 and 2025, prices remain lower than before the pandemic. 

“We want to keep price out of the equation for folks, so it’s not sticker shock for anyone,” said Tom Hall, director of operations for the ferry.

In early 2020, the ferry was the more expensive option to cross the bay, but there was little incentive to lower prices then because of high ridership. When the pandemic struck, the agency wanted to eliminate the perception that the ferry is a premium option, Hall said.

He credits SF Bay Ferry’s rebound, in part, to the resurgence of outdoor events during the pandemic; particularly Giants’ games, which resumed in 2021 and are often accessed by ferry. Meanwhile, downtown San Francisco office buildings remained closed, hurting BART, which relied more heavily on commuters. 

SF Bay Ferry this year has introduced events to attract new riders. Last month, the agency and the city of Vallejo cohosted the Vallejo Ferry Fest (opens in new tab) at the Mare Island waterfront, inviting families to ride from San Francisco to the island for music and food trucks.

In January, music performances came back to the ferry for the first time in 25 years (opens in new tab) with Tides and Tunes (opens in new tab), a recurring series. The first several weeks of the year included performances by folk and jazz artists, as well as Breganza’s DJ set. Tides and Tunes is set to return this month, Hall said.

“We think once most people come to the ferry once,” he said, “it will be hard to get back behind the wheel.”