CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Decline in Riders Clouds Ferry Service

State transportation officials have warned riders of San Francisco Bay ferries that they must continue to use the service if they hope to win the battle for extended service between San Francisco and the East Bay. Millions of dollars will be needed to save the service that began in the transportation crisis that followed the Oct. 17 earthquake, officials said. The state Department of Transportation has warned ferry riders that subsidies will run out March 23. Although exact figures are not available, officials estimate that 3,000 riders use the ferries daily, compared to 15,000 passengers daily when the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was closed after the quake.