The Brooklyn Bridge. It’s the most iconic symbol of Brooklyn, so if you’re in New York, why not walk over it?
Well, that can vary depending on the person, and of course, the time of day and year.
Yes, the Brooklyn Bridge can be walked over. A wooden pathway in the center of the bridge, elevated from the road, crosses the 5,989 foot bridge. The downside is that half of that already-narrow pathway is for bicycles, and those cyclists get pretty angry when people walk in their path.
Adding to this effect is that on any given summer day in NYC where the weather is fairly nice, the amount of people on the bridge increases by over 9,000 percent (yes, that’s a reference, but it’s true). So if you’re looking to walk over the bridge peacefully during this time, good luck.
Personally, the best time to walk over the bridge is mid-to-late May, when the weather is still chilly, but warm enough where you don’t have to wear a jacket. Of course, people will still be on the bridge even then, so if you’re looking to cross the bridge without encountering any lost tourists (because about 85% of the people who cross the bridge are tourists), you’re out of luck.
You could always walk the bridge in the winter, when it’s freezing cold, but on the bright side, almost no one will be on it. Also, if it’s raining, no one will be on it, because people in New York are too good for getting wet with rain.
So, if you like crowds and being with lots of people constantly bunking into you, stopping suddenly in front of you to take selfies with their long selfie sticks, and getting rammed into and cursed at by cyclists, the Brooklyn Bridge is for you.
If these things don’t necessarily sound appealing to you, you could always just visit a park in Brooklyn that surrounds the bridge, and get nice views from there. Brooklyn Bridge Park and Main Street Park (by the Carousel) in DUMBO, Brooklyn are great examples of this.
Then again, if you’re visiting New York, and you want the true New York experience, I do recommend you just suck up the negatives and walk the bridge (starting in Brooklyn and ending in Manhattan). It’s truly a unique and amazing experience you won’t forget. Probably.
Chris is a writer and publisher who travels America, and loves doing it. He also loves pizza, video games, and sports, and can tell you a thing or two about each. Follow him on Medium to be informed of new articles.
