In order to celebrate the six months of service, the East River Ferry offered commuters free ferry rides on Thursday.

The ferry service launched last June. Since then, it has carried nearly 500,000 passangers, more than officials anticipated.

We have already in the first six months surpassed our 12-month projection [of 409,000 paid passengers], said Council Speaker Christine Quinn, according to DNAinfo.com.

We're sending a message, Quinn continued, that ferry service here on the East River...is a terrific idea that is long overdue.

The ferry brings passangers from East 34th Street to Long Island City's Hunter's Point. Then it travels along North Brooklyn arriving at Williamsburg's North Sixth Street pier. It heads to Schaefer Landing at Kent Avenue, before traveling to DUMBO's Fulton Ferry Landing and finally making its way back to Manhattan at Wall Street's Pier 11, according to DNAinfo.com.

Rides cost for $4 one-way and $12 for unlimited day pass. There is also a $140 monthly pass.

Free