New water taxi service sets sail in Ocean City

May 5, 2019

Camila Fernandez,

OCEAN CITY, Md. – A new form of transportation officially arrived to Ocean City on Friday. People can now get to and from where they need to go by hopping on a boat.

The floating taxi service is called the Ocean City Bay Hopper, and some business owners near the bay say they believe this new form of transportation could help boost their sales.

“I think it’s a great idea for the city, and I think it’s a great idea for the Turtle if we get any and they might when people they load and unload up here at the at the Food Lion, so maybe they’ll come in here before or after to get something to eat,” said Steve Pappas, the owner of The Original Greene Turtle.

According to Adam Douglass at the Ocean City Bay Hopper, all visitors have to do is simply download the OC Bayhopper app on their phones. The app will allow visitors to choose where they want the taxi to drop them off much like the way Uber works.

The water taxi is set up in a kiosk on 117th Street and according to Douglass riders can stop in at all sorts of bars and restaurants.

“I can’t see any downside to it, and it keeps people who are drinking off the road,” said Pappas.

“It gives these people a chance to hit other areas, especially us, and we don’t get a whole lot of people coming from boats, but maybe with the Bay Hopper we might get some,” said Pappas.

According to Douglass, visitors will be able to sit and relax and they might just get the chance to see dolphins, ponies and other wildlife

“There are so many gems of Ocean City that are accessible by water and so few people unless you own a boat or you trailer your boat into town you have to figure out where to keep your trailer a water taxi makes a lot of sense,” said Douglass.

Douglass said starting Memorial Day Weekend the Ocean City Bay Hopper will be available every day of the week.

Even though the water taxi is expected to help boost sales in the area some locals say they are concerned that it will bring too much noise to Ocean City’s bayside during the summer months.