RED HOOK — IKEA Tuesday announced that on Aug. 3 it will begin charging a fee to weekday riders of its water taxi service who do not shop at its Red Hook store.

However, the summer hours for the water taxi service will be extended, operating from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. These changes are part of a periodic review and seasonal adjustment of the store’s transit options based on cost, demand and ridership.

Additionally, the weekday shuttle bus service from nearby subway stops – which will remain free of charge to the public every day of the week – now will run from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“With the store open for more than one year, we have a strong sense of the shopping and transit pattern, customer expectations and of costs required to support key customer services,� said Mike Baker, IKEA Brooklyn store manager.

The water taxi from Manhattan’s Pier 11 to IKEA Brooklyn in Red Hook will charge passengers $5 per ride. Customers spending $10 or more per person at IKEA Brooklyn will receive an immediate $5 credit on their fare for use during future visits to the store.

A ride from Red Hook to Manhattan also will cost $5 per passenger, but IKEA Brooklyn customers with a purchase of $10 or more simply can show their receipt to be exempted from the fee. Children age 12 or under can ride for free.

This policy of charging non-IKEA customers during the week will not affect weekend service – which will remain free of charge to all riders.

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