It’s Friday, and whether you’re planning a weekend waterfront outing, commuting home tonight, or mapping out next week’s routine, there’s a lot happening on the water and on the bus. NYC Ferry just locked in schedule changes across the South Brooklyn route, and the system’s summer timetable is less than two weeks away. Here’s the full picture for New York’s bus and ferry riders heading into the weekend.

NYC Ferry: South Brooklyn Schedule Updated (Effective May 4)

If you ride the South Brooklyn route, your departure times have changed — and you’ll want to update your mental schedule before you miss a boat. NYC Ferry implemented revised timetables effective Monday, May 4, 2026:

• Weekdays: Most morning departure times remain the same. Afternoon departures have shifted — check the app or ferry.nyc before your evening commute home.
• Weekends: Most departure times have changed from previous schedules. Don’t assume your old weekend routine still works.

The South Brooklyn route connects stops including Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal, Brooklyn Bridge Park (Pier 6), Governors Island (seasonal), and Lower East Side/Stuyvesant Cove. Whether you’re hitting the Brooklyn waterfront this Saturday or hopping over to Governors Island, confirm your boat time at ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules.

Summer Schedule Launches May 18 — East River Route Gets New Times

Mark your calendar: NYC Ferry’s summer 2026 schedule kicks in on Monday, May 18. The most notable change hits the East River route, where weekday afternoon departure times will shift to accommodate higher summer ridership demand.

The East River route is the system’s busiest, connecting stops from Bay Ridge/Sunset Park in Brooklyn through Manhattan (Wall Street/Pier 11, Midtown/34th Street) up to Astoria in Queens. If you use this route to commute, plan to recheck your schedule during the week of May 18 — afternoon boats will be on a new timetable.

Spring Service Still Running Through May 17

Through May 17, the current spring schedule remains in effect. The spring timetable features increased service frequency and capacity on weekends across most routes. Notably, the East River route operates as two separate routes all day on weekends during the spring season — giving riders more flexibility and more boats. This weekend is your last few weekends on the spring timetable, so enjoy the enhanced weekend frequency while it lasts.

Ferry Rider Basics for the Weekend

NYC Ferry runs on a flat fare structure — the same price as a subway ride — and accepts OMNY (tap to pay) at ferry terminals. Bikes are welcome on board for a small additional fee. Weekend boats tend to fill up at popular landings like Pier 6 Brooklyn Bridge Park and the 34th Street Midtown dock, especially on warm afternoons. Aim to arrive 10 minutes before departure to guarantee a spot.

The NYC Ferry app (available on iOS and Android) shows real-time boat locations, arrival countdowns, and fare purchasing. It’s the best tool for planning a ferry trip — especially now that schedules are in transition.

Bus Network: What’s Happening on the Streets

The broader NYC bus network is in a multi-year redesign phase. The Queens Bus Network Redesign and Brooklyn Bus Network Redesign are both advancing through planning and implementation phases, with new local, limited, Select Bus Service (SBS), and express route configurations on the horizon for both boroughs.

Governor Hochul and the MTA previously announced service enhancements on 16 local bus routes across Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island — part of ongoing efforts to improve headways on frequently used corridors. More route frequency improvements are expected through summer 2026 as the network redesign moves from planning to on-the-street service.

Weekend Bus Tips

Weekend bus service runs less frequently than weekdays. On many local routes, expect waits of 12 to 20 minutes between buses. The MTA Bus Time tracker (bustime.mta.info) or the MTA app gives real-time arrival predictions — a huge quality-of-life upgrade over guessing at a stop.

For riders connecting from disrupted subway lines — especially G train riders in Brooklyn and Queens — look up the nearest bus routes before you head out. The B61, B62, B67, and B69 serve key Brooklyn neighborhoods along the G corridor and can bridge subway gaps on disrupted weekends.

Looking Ahead: Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7, 365 days a year — free of charge. It’s one of New York’s great underused transit assets and offers one of the best views of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty at zero cost. On weekends, boats depart every 30 minutes during daytime hours. It’s worth a round trip just for the ride.

⛴️ Commuter Tip: NYC Ferry’s schedule just changed — don’t rely on memory. Before any weekend boat trip, open the NYC Ferry app or visit ferry.nyc to confirm your departure time under the updated South Brooklyn timetable. And if you’re a regular East River commuter, bookmark May 18 as the day your afternoon schedule flips to the summer timetable.

Whether you’re riding the waves or catching a bus, New York has options — and knowing the schedules makes all the difference. Stay updated at ferry.nyc and mta.info.