One would assume that, in light of the subsidies and political capital being spent on ferries, the city would also extend relevant bus routes to the ferry docks. Nowhere is their failure to do so more obvious than in North Brooklyn, where many bus lines stop a mile short of the waterfront at Williamsburg Bridge Plaza. So far the L shutdown plans do not include improving access to ferries by expanding existing bus routes.

Routes ought to be extended and recent bus-branding successes should be deployed to promote awareness. A look at the Brooklyn bus map reveals a few possible targets:

B44-SBS – this is the #3 most used bus in Brooklyn. A connection to the ferries would give the city an opportunity to market the ferry to thousands of new riders. Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, and points south would gain easy access to the ferries. It would give, for example, a convenient commute to the Bed-Stuy-residing employees of NYU and Bellevue hospitals. The fact that this is an SBS route means it is already leading the way vis-a-vis a Second System.

B60 – this is the bus line that most closely parallels the L for much of its route. A connection to the ferry would give ferry access to many current L riders.

B46 – this line runs along Broadway under the J,M,Z lines for much of its route. Concerns abound over J,M,Z overcrowding next year, so it would be sensible to divert some of these passengers to the ferries.

An immediate challenge, of course, is the lack of street-space for bus parking and turnaround near the North Williamsburg and South Williamsburg docks.  This will require creative solutions. Perhaps the lines can loop back, after stopping near a ferry dock, and thus continue to terminate at Williamsburg Bridge Plaza?