The new bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge opened in September following an increase in cyclists from the pandemic that has shown no signs of slowing.
Mayor De Blasio has felt pressure for the lane’s construction from cycling advocates for a while, but the pandemic seemingly forced his hand as many New Yorkers opted for this mode of transportation over the subway.
After three months of construction, the new two-way lane brings an end to the messy mix of pedestrian and cyclist traffic on New York’s iconic bridge. Although drivers have lost a lane to the new bike path, it has significantly decreased the chaotic mix of pedestrian and cyclist traffic on the bridge itself. The bridge is a popular tourist attraction—many of whom are unaware of the rules of the bridge traffic.
The designated lane is now an incentive for people to opt for biking rather than driving or taking the subway—which is not only climate-friendly but congestion friendly, too. Bike lane ridership in New York City has skyrocketed by almost 90% in the past year from October 2020 to October 2021.
“We have reclaimed space from cars to make cycling over the Brooklyn Bridge safer and easier, while making the pedestrian experience better than ever – and it has been a great success,” DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said in a statement.
Related Posts
![Image of Virginia Shore, Curator of Art Commissions at the Obama Presidential Center. [Credit: David Levene]](https://theclick.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Virginia-Shore.-Credit-David-Levene.png)
June 10, 2026
An Inside Look at Art and Connection at the Obama Presidential Center
Virginia Shore, the Obama Presidential Center's Curator of Art Commissions, spoke with The Click about shaping the Center's contemporary art program, her curatorial philosophy, and the role of art in creating dialogue and understanding.
June 10, 2026
“Making People’s Lives Better”: A Massachusetts Library’s Community Impact
The public library is one of the last strongholds of third spaces that is entirely free for the public. It remains uncompromising in the weather and can serve as a refuge from sweltering heat or the bitter cold of winter. You can stay as long as you like, and many public libraries often host events to bring the community together. However, this is a third space that has been significantly compromised as libraries have dealt with funding cuts, tensions over book bans, and technology pivots.