New Public Safety Measures on Brooklyn Bridge to Promote Safe Travel for Pedestrians, Cyclists

High pedestrian volumes on the Brooklyn Bridge on Friday, December 29, 2023

New rule clarifies that vending is not allowed on city-owned bridges, returning space to New Yorkers and visitors for clear passage between boroughs

City conducting robust, multilingual community outreach to vendors before enforcement begins

New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced today new measures to enhance public safety and pedestrian flow on the Brooklyn Bridge and other city-owned bridges.

On Wednesday, NYC DOT published new rules clarifying that vending on pedestrian walkways and bike lanes on city bridges and bridge approaches is not allowed, enhancing pedestrian safety, easing overcrowding, and promoting the safety and security of the bridges. The new rule was developed through careful multi-agency coordination and as pedestrian counts on the Brooklyn Bridge continue to rise, with an average of 34,000 pedestrians on an average fall weekend day, comparing to 17,000 in just 2021.

NYPD enforcement of the new rule will begin after robust vendor outreach.

“The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York City’s most stunning gems. Tourists and New Yorkers alike deserve to walk across it and enjoy its beauty without being packed together like sardines or risking their safety,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “That’s why we’re giving vendors fair warning: As of January 3rd, they won’t be allowed to set up shop on pedestrian walkways or bike lanes on our bridges — giving New Yorkers the ability to use those public spaces safely and freely. We’re not going to allow disorder to continue in these cherished spaces.”

The width of the elevated pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge averages 16 feet, though it varies along the bridge. At multiple locations the walkway is less than five feet wide. Vendors displaying and storing their wares, carts, tables, tents, tarps, canopies, coolers, and generators along the Brooklyn Bridge walkway impedes pedestrian traffic flow and pedestrians’ ability to safely exit the bridge.

The publication of the final rule follows multilingual outreach to advise vendors of permitted locations for their operations and a public comment period that demonstrated widespread support for the rule.