Staten Island Ferry To Provide Refuge From Onboard Preachers

If you've ridden the Staten Island Ferry, you probably know that biggest downside of the voyage is in the ranting street preachers who take advantage of an audience that can't escape for 20 minutes. Well, no more. After "reviewing legal issues surrounding free speech and how it applies on public transportation" the DOT has established a "Quiet Deck," where loud talking is forbidden. So far the no-preaching (and no cell phones!) zones only apply on the Molinari-class ferries, but the DOT is looking into expanding the concept into the older ferries where more open seating areas make it harder to segregate passengers seeking refuge from being told they're going to hell. If only they could make this work on the subway.