A water taxi or a water bus is a
boat used to provide
public or
private transport, usually, but not always, in an
urban environment.[1] Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a
bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar manner to a
taxi. A boat service shuttling between two points would normally be described as a
ferry rather than a water bus or taxi.
The term water taxi is usually confined to a boat operating on demand, and water bus to a boat operating on a schedule. In North American usage, the terms are roughly synonymous.
The earliest water taxi service was recorded as operating around the area that became
Manchester, England.[citation needed]
Locations
Cities and other places operating water buses and/or taxis include:
New Orleans -
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Mississippi River from mouth to Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belle Chasse Marine, Port Ship Service, Crescent Ship Service and Weber Marine.
On demand water taxis are also commonly found in
marinas,
harbours and
cottage areas, providing access to boats and waterfront properties that are not directly accessible by land.
Incidents
On March 6, 2004, a water taxi on the Seaport Taxi service operated by the Living Classrooms Foundation capsized during a storm on the
Patapsco River, near Baltimore's
Inner Harbor. A total of five passengers died in the accident, which the
National Transportation Safety Board determined was caused by insufficient stability when the small pontoon-style vessel encountered strong winds and waves. The company no longer operates water taxi vessels in Baltimore harbor.[25]
A water taxi or a water bus is a
boat used to provide
public or
private transport, usually, but not always, in an
urban environment.[1] Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a
bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar manner to a
taxi. A boat service shuttling between two points would normally be described as a
ferry rather than a water bus or taxi.
The term water taxi is usually confined to a boat operating on demand, and water bus to a boat operating on a schedule. In North American usage, the terms are roughly synonymous.
The earliest water taxi service was recorded as operating around the area that became
Manchester, England.[citation needed]
Locations
Cities and other places operating water buses and/or taxis include:
New Orleans -
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Mississippi River from mouth to Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belle Chasse Marine, Port Ship Service, Crescent Ship Service and Weber Marine.
On demand water taxis are also commonly found in
marinas,
harbours and
cottage areas, providing access to boats and waterfront properties that are not directly accessible by land.
Incidents
On March 6, 2004, a water taxi on the Seaport Taxi service operated by the Living Classrooms Foundation capsized during a storm on the
Patapsco River, near Baltimore's
Inner Harbor. A total of five passengers died in the accident, which the
National Transportation Safety Board determined was caused by insufficient stability when the small pontoon-style vessel encountered strong winds and waves. The company no longer operates water taxi vessels in Baltimore harbor.[25]