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Mamdani announces Brooklyn Bridge redesign separating bikes and pedestrians
The project aims to separate traffic and ease congestion ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
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Anushka Pathak - Fri, 27, Mar 2026
- 16:03 EDT
- 17
Redesign plan of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian and cyclist entrance in Manhattan / Courtesy: NYC DOT
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn on March 27 announced a permanent redesign at the Brooklyn Bridge’s Manhattan entrance to separate bike and pedestrian access.
The plan introduces a dedicated bike link along Centre Street and expands the southern crosswalk to City Hall Park. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks and conclude ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June 2026.
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The Brooklyn Bridge sees heavy daily use, with nearly 30,000 pedestrians and over 5,600 cyclists crossing on an average day. While bike and pedestrian lanes were separated on the bridge in 2021, the Manhattan approach has remained a shared and congested space.
City officials said the redesign addresses this bottleneck, where cyclists and pedestrians currently navigate around each other. The earlier 2021 changes led to a sharp increase in cycling, with daily ridership rising from 2,652 in 2021 to 5,625 in 2025, while usage across other East River crossings remained steady or increased.
Mamdani said the project aligns with broader efforts to improve street safety and accessibility. He stated the administration has focused on ensuring streets work for all users and added, “Whether you’re driving, walking, or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you deserve to get where you’re going with ease and without fear.”
Flynn described the earlier separation on the bridge as effective but said challenges remain at the Manhattan entrance. He noted that cyclists and pedestrians are still forced to move around each other, adding that the situation would worsen with an expected rise in visitors.
“Separating bike and pedestrian traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge has been an unmitigated success,” Flynn said, while warning that congestion would increase with higher footfall.
World Cup Czar Maya Handa said the redesign is part of wider preparations for an influx of visitors, noting that improvements are intended to last beyond the tournament. She said the goal is to make streets safer and more accessible, adding, “New Yorkers can expect a number of permanent improvements to our streetscapes that will make our streets safer and more accessible long after the tournament ends.”
Council Member Chris Marte said the Manhattan entrance has long been overcrowded, describing the redesign as a necessary step to improve safety for daily users. He said pedestrians and cyclists have been sharing limited space for years and called the plan a practical solution arriving ahead of increased summer traffic.
The redesign is part of a broader set of infrastructure upgrades tied to World Cup preparations, including sidewalk expansions and new bike lanes in areas such as Hell’s Kitchen and along Lafayette Street.
The Brooklyn Bridge, which attracts more than 10 million visitors annually, remains a key transit route and tourist landmark. Officials said the project is intended to address longstanding safety and congestion concerns while delivering long-term improvements beyond the World Cup period.
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