New York Water Taxi has announced it will suspend service between Williamsburg and Manhattan until May.

Representatives for the ferry service say not enough passengers use the taxis in the winter months due to the cold weather. A statement on the taxi operator's Web site cites rising gas prices and lower patronage as the cause.

City officials are pushing to subsidize the service to assure year-round activity. A resurgence in waterfront neighborhoods in the boroughs have been attributed partly to the water taxis.

City Councilman Eric Gioia believes the city should be willing to spend $1 million per year to help the taxis survive the winter.

AP wires contributed to this article.