Selfie-obsessed tourists have taken over the Roosevelt Island tram — creating a massive headache for locals who are being forced to wait in lines stacked with as many as 250 people.
The tram between Manhattan and the smaller iconic island has long been a tourist destination, but it took off in popularity this summer when it was blasted on various “top attractions in New York City” lists and across social media.
“This is insane. … In all my time on the Island, I have never seen something like this,” said a Roosevelt resident named Ashley, who declined to give her last name, to The Post on Sunday morning — as several hundred people were lined up at Tramway Plaza in Manhattan waiting to board the tram.
“I’ve lived on Roosevelt Island for a little over eight years, and I’m disgusted every time I get off the tram, knowing I have to wait in that ridiculous line to get back,” she said.
The government-run NYC Tourism+Conventions group encourages tourists to ride the skylift to witness “a unique perspective on the City,” only apparently adding to its allure.
“It’s a beautiful way to get pictures of New York,” said Amelia Singh, 29, who is visiting from Guyana, as she was waiting for a return ride back to Manhattan over the weekend.
“I saw it on TikTok and made sure it was on my list of things to do,” she said of the tram. “Also, today was perfect weather to do it.”
When asked if she actually spent any time on Roosevelt Island, Singh responded, “Briefly.
“We walked around and took pictures where you can see the bridge and the water. Then we came back over.”
A family visiting from Argentina, who declined to share their names, said they added the tram to their itinerary after spotting it on a “list of attractions to do in New York” and hearing about it from friends who had previously made trips to the Big Apple.
“We were told it would be a fun way to see the New York skyline,” one of the relatives said.
The family tried to leave their strollers on the tram platform but were promptly told not to by the conductor — making for just one of several slowdowns Sunday.
Only one tram was in operation for the busy afternoon. On at least three occasions, the crowds swarmed the car so that it was over its 109-person capacity — forcing the conductor to remove up to several people each time.
The platform was also visibly unsafely packed, with crowds standing shoulder to shoulder and lines bleeding through emergency exits.
The chaos is the new normal, according to residents — who are demanding that the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. implement a new priority boarding policy that would allow locals and workers to skip the lengthy lines.
The RIOC last year rejected such a proposal, saying in a statement that it would violate state law and contracts it has made with the city and the MTA.
“RIOC is … tasked with operating and maintaining Roosevelt Island, yes for residents, but also for all New Yorkers and any visitors alike,” the statement said.
“RIOC is proud of the iconic Roosevelt Island Tram, and we are proud that it is open equally to all New Yorkers and to the millions of people who visit New York City every year.”
But locals have continued their crusade, launching a petition in November that has racked up more than 2,300 signatures.
“Make a line for residents and workers and another line for tourists,” said Roosevelt resident Nathan Lewis, 37. “That way everybody is happy. The people trying to just go home and get home peacefully and the people that want to take pictures, can take pictures in peace,”
He said he himself has given up on the tram, even though he and many other islanders consider it a safer option compared to taking the F subway line back and forth to Manhattan.
“I stopped taking the subway when I heard about the random pushing and stabbings. I looked forward to my peaceful ride on the tram. But nope, not anymore. I have to go back to taking the subway, or It would take me over an hour to go home some days,” Lewis said.
“I understand the view is nice, but then maybe residents should have a priority line,” he added.
Another resident gave up on the tram Sunday after waiting in line for 40 minutes.
“I’m going to miss my appointment waiting on this line,” the woman said. “This is horrible. … They have one car running, and it’s coming every 10 to 15 minutes.”
According to an RIOC report, the tram serves more than 2 million people annually — a staggering figure that locals claim has only skyrocketed further in recent months.
RIOC could not provide figures for 2024, but a spokesperson pointed out that the F train, NYC Ferry and Q102 bus using the bridge linking Manhattan with Roosevelt are available and have typically shorter wait times.
The tram runs every 10 minutes during rush hour but an infuriating 21 minutes at other times.
Many seething Roosevelt Islanders have joined Lewis in switching to the subway in recent weeks.
But in addition to safety concerns, the F train is not a very reliable mode of transportation, they said.
“I take the F train, but there was a period where the F train didn’t work — repairs on the track,” said a longtime island resident and retired doctor, who only gave her initials, GS.
When asked to describe the increase in tourism, she said, “Horrible, horrible!
“I’ve lived on the island for 40 years, and it was never like this,” GS said, adding that while she hopes the RIOC will implement a resident priority lane, it’s likely a long shot.
“It’s just lately, when the corporation wants to make more money or sales — they don’t care about the residents,” she said.
[Toustis] don’t even come to see the island. They just cross the river and then come back. Something should happen.”
