Lake Michigan Ferry article

[PeteSC]

Articles with pictures at...
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/aug05/349612.asp



Bikers cruise on lake ferries
Lake Express, S.S. Badger compete to carry motorcycles across Lake Michigan
By RICK BARRETT
rbarrett@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 19, 2005
Motorcycles are cruising across the placid waters of Lake Michigan as two lake ferries compete for bikes and passengers.

 
In the last two weeks alone, the S.S. Badger and Lake Express combined have carried hundreds of motorcyclists on their way to and from biker rallies across the country. The Badger ferry, based in Manitowoc, can handle up to 350 motorcycles per crossing. Lake Express, based in Milwaukee, can carry up to about 55 bikes.

Motorcyclists have come from all over the East Coast and Canada looking for a shortcut on their routes west and a way around Chicago traffic.

"Time is valuable when you only have so much vacation," said Vern Roberts, a Harley rider from Flint, Mich., while waiting to board Lake Express in Milwaukee.

Roberts, a service engineer for a machine tool company, was ready for a break from the open road after having done a whirlwind tour of Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. He didn't especially like strapping down his big touring bike on the ferry, but otherwise he didn't mind the 2 1/2 -hour lake crossing.

"It's not boring because it goes fast," Roberts said.

Over several days, Lake Express recently carried nearly 300 motorcyclists headed to the Black Hills motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D. The ferry typically carries about a dozen bikes per crossing.

Motorcycle traffic on the ferry is up dramatically from a year ago, which was the ferry's first season, said Kay Collins, Lake Express sales and marketing director.

"It's good because we can carry more motorcycles than cars and make a little more money," Collins said. "But the biggest thing is it opens up new markets for us" as motorcyclists spread the word about the new ferry and come back with their families and automobiles.

It usually costs $30 to transport a motorcycle one way on the Lake Express, plus $50 per adult passenger. There is a roundtrip discount, and group rates are available.

To advertise the ferry to motorcyclists, Lake Express has hosted Harley-Davidson Owners Group meetings, and it has spread the word through motorcycle dealerships and various biker events.

"It's all about speed," Collins said, because the Lake Express is nearly twice as fast as the S.S. Badger.

Comfort is where the Badger shines, said Del Whitmire, ferry manager.

The parent company of the Badger has spent more than $100,000 in renovations to the 52-year-old ship to make it more comfortable and to keep it competitive with the Lake Express.

Last year, the Milwaukee ferry cut into the Badger's passenger total, although bad weather and high gas prices also contributed to the depressed travel.

The Badger has been carrying motorcycles for decades. During Harley-Davidson's 100th anniversary celebration in 2003, an entire deck of the ferry was reserved for several hundred bikes on a lake crossing.

"We have quite a few motorcyclists who have a loyalty to us and won't even try the other ferry," Whitmire said.

The number of bikes carried on the Badger this year is up from 2004 despite competition from Lake Express.

"It's a substantial amount of business," Whitmire said. "There are bikes on every sailing."

The Badger charges $29 per bike and $49 per adult passenger. Like the Lake Express, it offers group discounts and advertises at motorcycle events.

The Badger has a midnight lake crossing, from Manitowoc to Ludington, Mich. During that crossing, passengers often sleep under the stars on an open deck and arrive in Michigan shortly before sunrise.

For motorcyclists, "you can ride all day, and then catch up on your sleep on the boat," said Bill Henry, a Harley rider from Syracuse, N.Y., who has used both ferries.



From the Aug. 20, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

[Red01]

Those are some expensive ferries!!

Here in WA, our longest ferry ride is the one from Anacortes, WA to Sydney, BC. It's 2-3 hours, depending on direction of travel and if the ferry stops at San Juan Island. Fare for a cage & driver is $49.50, a motorcycle & driver is $24.75 and passengers or walk-ons pay $14.70.