Advancing a ferry system that promotes access & affordability
Recently, San Francisco Bay Ferry collaborated with Family Bridges, a non-profit community partner based in Oakland Chinatown. This collaboration marks the agency’s ongoing commitment to engaging with local communities.
To encourage greater awareness of ferry service and lower barriers to accessing transit among low-income seniors, SF Bay Ferry and its community outreach partner Next Steps Marketing curated a guided trip that brought a group of 23 Oakland residents over the age of 60 to San Francisco via the Oakland & Alameda ferry route.
The participants, most of whom live in the Oakland Chinatown area, made their way to the Oakland Ferry Terminal, rode SF Bay Ferry to Downtown San Francisco, and took SF Muni Line 1 to the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum. The group was escorted back along the same route.
Helen Lim, Senior Manager of Community Services at Family Bridges, emphasized how this collaboration presented a unique opportunity for many of the elderly Chinese clients whom she works with in Oakland Chinatown. Lim mentioned that she typically organizes a number of group outings per year, and this guided ferry trip was the first time she utilized a transit-forward approach.
While many of Lim’s clients live an active lifestyle, she was initially worried that the trip logistics would be challenging given that most of the participants were first-time ferry riders. “As the trip unfolded, I appreciated how smoothly the step-by-step logistics went and noticed how organized and communicative everyone was. This led to our partnership functioning well, and all of our Family Bridges clients really enjoyed the trip,” Lim shared. Prior to the guided ferry trip, SF Bay Ferry collaborated with Family Bridges staff to establish shared goals and create a culturally responsive experience for the Oakland seniors, including providing Cantonese translation to increase language accessibility.
Sally Dai, one of Lim’s clients who participated in the guided ferry trip, shared her insights and reflections after riding the ferry for the first time. “It was a new, refreshing, and meaningful experience for me. I’ve lived in the Bay Area for over 30 years, and learning how to ride the ferry to San Francisco was joyful and a true delight. The ride itself was comfortable and safe, and now I want to explore more neighborhoods in San Francisco,” said Dai. Dai was among the participants who received an introductory presentation about how to ride the ferry, including information about the service routes, fares and senior discounts, and weekday/weekend schedules.
According to the results of a pre- and post-trip survey that was conducted among the participants, 90% felt more confident about taking the ferry on their own in the future. The majority also indicated that they are very likely to ride the ferry again based on this guided trip experience. As the ferry continues to engage in local partnerships aimed at lowering barriers and increasing awareness about using the service, the agency looks forward to reaching broader communities and encouraging San Francisco Bay Area residents to choose transit.