Roosevelt Island locals want fast pass to take tram as selfie-crazed tourists turn transit into attraction

Fed-up Roosevelt Islanders want “priority boarding” for residents who are routinely forced to wait in line with hordes of selfie-obsessed tourists who’ve turned the transportation system into a carnival ride.Lines to board the tram to Roosevelt Island from the Upper East Side’s Tramway Plaza have gotten so out of hand locals may wait up to 45 minutes, residents told The Post.“There’s no animosity against the tourists at all, we encourage them to come and enjoy the place we have,” said Paul Krikler, a five-year Roosevelt Island resident and Manhattan Community Board 8 chair.“But the trouble is, it’s become a tourist ride, not public transit.”There are other options to get on and off Roosevelt including ferry service downtown and F train on the subway — but locals said there aren’t enough to compete with the demand when locals are scheduling doctor’s appointments or arranging school pickup and dropoff.“What we just want and need is the understanding and respect as residents, as employees,” said Felicia Ruff, the vice president of the Roosevelt Island Residents’ Association.

“We’re late for work because there’s a crowd … we understand it’s a bucket list [item], but you can take the next tram as a visitor.”Tram ridership has surged as the scenic ride made several social media “Top 10” lists for visitors to the Big Apple.There’s been a million additional riders in the last two years, data shows.“It’s become a nightmare,” said 69-year-old resident Louella Streitz, noting the island’s sole F train station’s elevators are often out of service, which cause a headache for the area’s aging population.

“We can’t get home.I fight [tourists on the tram], I can’t wait – I just push my way in.”  The battle over tram access inspired a rally at Tramway Plaza on Sunday afternoon, with the likes of council member Julie Menin, Sen.

Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Democratic mayoral candidate Scott Stringer showing suppo...