When I think of New York in the 2010s, I still remember the New York water taxi, which was yellow with a checkered pattern like a yellow cab. It was amusing to see it from a distance, as it gave off the vibe of a New York taxi while gliding over the water. I wondered why it looked that way, yet it felt quintessentially NYC at the same time.

At that time, the water taxi was not yet a fully popular mode of transportation like it is now. Tourists did ride it, but locals also used it from time to time.

Especially among those traveling between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, some deliberately chose that yellow boat over the subway. When the boat approached the dock, the yellow hull with black checkered patterns gliding over the water created a picturesque scene.

Personally, what impressed me most when I rode the water taxi was the atmosphere rather than the speed. On the subway, I was always jostled by people and bothered by noise, but on the boat, the sound of the engine and the water splashing felt surprisingly soothing. On windy days, my hair would get messy, but even that made me feel more connected to living in New York.

The yellow water taxi resembled a yellow cab. It had a practical and straightforward feel rather than being flashy or sophisticated. Just like the city of New York, its design prioritized function over beauty. Perhaps that's why it felt much more New York than a tourist cruise. It was not at all strange to see a person in a suit sitting next to a tourist with a camera.

From around the mid-2010s, the water taxi system changed and was reorganized into the current NYC Ferry system, causing those yellow checkered boats to gradually disappear. When I suddenly realized one day that I no longer saw them, I felt a pang of nostalgia. At that time, it was just a mode of transportation, but as time passed, I came to understand that it represented a period of New York.

These days, the ferries gliding over the water are beautifully painted and modern. However, sometimes I miss that rugged yellow water taxi.

The color that symbolized New York like a yellow cab, the checkered pattern, and the slow passage of time over the water. For those who lived in New York in the 2010s, that yellow water taxi was not just a boat but a small time machine that reminded us of the air and rhythm of that era in New York.