The tech giant has begun using a catamaran service on a trial basis to transport its employees from San Francisco to its Silicon Valley campus. January 7, 2014 8:21 PM PST The All-American Marine Triumphant ferry is transporting workers to Google's campus on a trial basis. (Credit: All-American Marine/YouTube) With Google buses being the focus of protests in San Francisco, it appears the tech giant is looking for other means to shuttle workers to its Silicon Valley campus: catamaran boats. Google made a deal with a private firm to begin transporting its employees on high-speed ferries on a trial basis, according to CBS San Francisco. The catamaran to do the job, dubbed "The Triumphant," carries up to 149 passengers and will run four trips a day -- two in the morning and two in the evening. The service started on Monday. Related stories Protesters break window of Google bus, report says Google Maps boosts live transit in NYC, D.C., and Salt Lake City Internet raises big bucks for bullied bus monitor StartupBus prepares to take Europe by storm New York, Silicon Valley teams win Startup Bus competition Google and other tech companies have been under fire from San Francisco residents for their bus shuttle service to and from Silicon Valley. Protesters have been upset with, among other things, the rising rents due to highly paid tech workers moving into the city. There has been an incidence of raised rents and home prices around the bus pick-up and drop-off locations. Adding to the resentment is the fact that the buses pick up passengers at stops designated for the city's official public transportation without paying the city. However, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said on Monday that the city would start charging the tech buses for stopping at public bus stops. As far as paying the city for the ferry service, CBS reports that Google will pay the Port of San Francisco for each ferry docking -- which is typical for all boats that use the port on a short-term basis. CNET contacted Google for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
The tech giant has begun using a catamaran service on a trial basis to transport its employees from San Francisco to its Silicon Valley campus.
The All-American Marine Triumphant ferry is transporting workers to Google's campus on a trial basis.
(Credit: All-American Marine/YouTube)
With Google buses being the focus of protests in San Francisco, it appears the tech giant is looking for other means to shuttle workers to its Silicon Valley campus: catamaran boats.
Google made a deal with a private firm to begin transporting its employees on high-speed ferries on a trial basis, according to CBS San Francisco. The catamaran to do the job, dubbed "The Triumphant," carries up to 149 passengers and will run four trips a day -- two in the morning and two in the evening. The service started on Monday.
Related stories
- Protesters break window of Google bus, report says
- Google Maps boosts live transit in NYC, D.C., and Salt Lake City
- Internet raises big bucks for bullied bus monitor
- StartupBus prepares to take Europe by storm
- New York, Silicon Valley teams win Startup Bus competition
Google and other tech companies have been under fire from San Francisco residents for their bus shuttle service to and from Silicon Valley. Protesters have been upset with, among other things, the rising rents due to highly paid tech workers moving into the city. There has been an incidence of raised rents and home prices around the bus pick-up and drop-off locations.
Adding to the resentment is the fact that the buses pick up passengers at stops designated for the city's official public transportation without paying the city. However, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said on Monday that the city would start charging the tech buses for stopping at public bus stops.
As far as paying the city for the ferry service, CBS reports that Google will pay the Port of San Francisco for each ferry docking -- which is typical for all boats that use the port on a short-term basis.
CNET contacted Google for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.
