23 Aug, 2009
Long Beach Aqualink Catamaran Daily Service Ends Sept. 12
Posted by: Beach Reporter In: beaches| california| travel
Long Beach, Calif.–A cool, colorful catamaran boat ride, Aqualink, that runs the coast from Long Beach’s Alamitos Landing to Queen Mary ship and Aquarium of the Pacific has met whopping success during the summer months as kids and adults with bikes, tourists and locals, all save money, have fun, and visit the Long Beach tourist attractions on public transportation. A bright purple, red and yellow striped high-tech vessel operated by Catalina Express as a concession for the city of Long Beach, offers not just a fun ride, but a new way of thinking–public transportation.
Long Beach’s somewhat subsidized service has proven that if you make your rides colorful and fun, people will give up their cars and climb on board.
Unfortunately, the Aqualink daily service ends on Sept. 12 (switches to weekends only), and the evening hour shuttles drop off around Aug. 29. Currently on weekends the boat transports people just beyond 10 p.m. As of next Saturday it will curb back to around 5-6 p.m. for the final weekend ride.
If you’ve not had the pleasure of trying this ride, do treat yourself to what the future may bring. Boat rides on the Long Beach bay…how bad is that? Maybe some day the entire Southern California coast will connect tourists via boat rides between Long Beach, Marina del Rey, Newport Beach, Dana Point and San Diego. Now that would be fun!