Free Ferry Rides Inspire Push for Free Public Transit in NYC

New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani advocates for free public transit, using the Staten Island Ferry as a successful model. The Staten Island Ferry, a vital transportation link for New York City, has been free since 1997, transporting approximately 45,000 people daily. "When someone says buses can’t be free, tell them to take a ferry," Mamdani states in the video. This contrasts with the ferry's historical fares: a nickel in 1898, rising to a quarter in the 1970s and fifty cents in 1990. Mamdani's advocacy leverages this successful example of free public transit to push for similar initiatives. The video's popularity, with over 55,000 views and 10,300 likes, indicates significant public interest in this issue.