Yesterday we got the following note from a reader: “Despite Ikea PR saying that they encourage people to use the water taxi and shuttles to visit the Red Hook neighborhood, this morning the water taxi personnel mentioned that they are already officially supposed to be checking for store-receipts/ink stamps when you board on the Red Hook side. They are just giving us a grace period until they actually charge non-customers for tickets.” Last week the Daily News had a piece about how Brooklynites have been taking advantage of Ikea’s free shuttles and water taxi rides. In it, a spokesperson for the company was quoted as saying, “We are thrilled that we are providing free transit options for the people of New York to come to Ikea and to come to Red Hook. We support mass transit, and if people are using our services and not going to Ikea, that’s fine with us as well.”
Update: Curbed has a statement from Ikea that clarifies the shift in policy. A rep says the Water Taxi will still be free for all but that Ikea customers who have gotten their hands stamped by the retailer will get first dibs on seats.
Ikea Shuttle Bests MTA Service for Some [Brownstoner]
Photo by jag9889.