MAYOR MAMDANI ANNOUNCES REDESIGNED BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO BROOKLYN BRIDGE AHEAD OF WORLD CUP

Street redesign will permanently expand access to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan and improve safety ahead of World Cup surge in visitors 

Current (T) and future (B) design of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian and cyclist entrance in Manhattan. Credit: NYC DOT    

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced that the City will begin a critical street redesign project this spring to permanently improve bike and pedestrian access to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The new design builds on prior Mamdani administration efforts to expand accessibility and strengthen infrastructure ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

The project will add a new, dedicated bike connection to the bridge along Centre Street at its Manhattan entrance, creating fully separate bike and pedestrian access for the first time. Work will begin in the coming weeks and be completed ahead of the tournament’s June start, dramatically improving access to one of the City’s most congested areas.

“Since taking office, our administration has been guided by a simple promise: streets that are safe and accessible for every New Yorker,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether you’re driving, walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge, you deserve to get where you’re going with ease and without fear. This new design will better protect cyclists and pedestrians as we prepare to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup — and show that our streets truly reflect the best of New York City.”

“Separating bike and pedestrian traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge has been an unmitigated success. But cyclists and pedestrians are still forced to navigate around each other as they enter and exit the bridge in Manhattan — and that disorder would only get worse this summer when we expect a massive increase in visitors to this iconic landmark,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This redesign will build on the success of the bridge’s protected bike lane and greatly improve the experience for pedestrians and cyclists visiting the Brooklyn Bridge, creating more organized access ahead of the surge in visitors this summer for the World Cup.”

“As we prepare for millions of visitors this summer for the World Cup, 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,” said World Cup Czar Maya Handa. “Our goal is to ensure that whether it’s through improved streets or neighborhood activations throughout the summer, all New Yorkers benefit from the World Cup.” 

Pedestrians queuing across both bike and pedestrian access points to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. Under the new design, this crosswalk will be widened to reflect pedestrians access to both ramps. Credit: NYC DOT   

Nearly 30,000 pedestrians and more than 5,600 cyclists use the Brooklyn Bridge on an average day. In 2021, NYC DOT separated bike and pedestrian traffic on the bridge by installing dedicated, two-way bike lanes on the Manhattan-bound roadway. The remarkably successful project transformed the pedestrian experience while significantly increasing cycling volumes. Daily ridership has more than doubled — from 2,652 daily cyclists in 2021 to 5,625 in 2025 — while cycling volumes have remained steady or increased across other East River bridge.

This entry redesign builds on that success by fully separating pedestrians and cyclists at the Manhattan approach, where they are currently required to share space. As part of the project, NYC DOT will double the width of the southern crosswalk between the bridge and City Hall Park, creating additional space for pedestrians.

The Brooklyn Bridge entrance upgrade is the latest in a series of street redesign projects the Mamdani administration is prioritizing ahead of the World Cup. NYC DOT also plans to deliver a redesign of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen by widening its congested sidewalks, expanding bike lanes and extending the  bus lane north of 50th Street. Additional improvements will better connect Lower Manhattan to Union Square, including upgrading cycling infrastructure along  Lafayette Street and widening sidewalks near Union Square. Most upgrades are expected to be announced and installed this spring.