Choppy waters, rough commutes for East Bay travelers

ALAMEDA, Calif. (KGO) -- Ferry Service from South San Francisco and Vallejo was cancelled due to severe weather during a wet and windy commute in the Bay Area. Riders had to take backup busses.

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The storm whipped across the Bay. During commute hours you couldn't see past the Port of Oakland.

"It was pretty rough out there," said Kelly Goldman, who took the ferry from San Francisco to Alameda so he could direct passengers. "It was kind of like a roller coaster wave effect. There was a couple of people out there getting seasick. The Harbor Bay run has been canceled due to the weather, so I have to escort people from that run to the bus services, but right now the bus is stuck in traffic."

Wind whipped as passengers hustled off boats.

"We've been in worse conditions," said commuter Marlene Quan. "So it was a good driver, so we're fine."

Boat captains make the call to cancel routes for safety.

"They've canceled them a few times in the past," said Quan. "But this was extremely rough. I've never seen swells that big out in the Bay."

South San Francisco and Vallejo passengers took alternate busses as routes were canceled.

"But I'd rather be on a bus, than in the car," said John Igaz of Alameda. "Because I could read, sleep, you know dose off. Rapid transit is always better than driving yourself. That's my take."

The bus ride from South San Francisco took nearly two hours, but it was less bumpy than a boat. "I'm glad I'm off," said another commuter. "The estuary never looked so good."

A storm Friday may affect the morning ferry commute.

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