Back in 2021 it was announced that separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians would be heading to the Queensboro Bridge, and now, after abrupt delays and four years of waiting, the paths are set to open this weekend, Sunday, May 18th! Just in time for the hot summer weather heading our way and good news for the more than 2,785 pedestrians and 7,568 cyclists who traverse the bridge each day.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the news on Tuesday, May 13th, noting that the 11-foot-wide north outer roadway of the bridge, which is currently used both by pedestrians and cyclists, will now be exclusively for cyclists. Pedestrians will now have dedicated access to the south outer roadway, which up until now has served as a vehicle lane used only during limited hours.
According to a press release, the Queensboro Bridge is one of the city’s busiest bridges for pedestrian and cycling crossings, though its current shared path has resulted in overcrowding as pedestrian and cyclist volume increased. Mayor Adams stated:
For over 100 years, the Queensboro Bridge has safely connected New Yorkers driving, riding, and walking between Manhattan and Queens…Now, our administration will make it even easier and safer to do so. The more we make it safe to walk and bike, the more people utilize their bikes, and thanks to new cycling infrastructure in communities near the bridge, more and more pedestrians and cyclists are utilizing the Queensboro Bridge.
The Queensboro Bridge is the third city bridge over the East and Harlem Rivers to receive expanded pedestrian and bike infrastructure in recent years–both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Bridge received improved and expanded space in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Cycling over the Brooklyn Bridge increased by 108% after the bridge received its own dedicated bike lane.
Additionally, the transformation of the south outer roadway into a pedestrian path is just one of the 37 projects outlined in the DOT’s “Connecting to the Core” report, which is aimed at helping New Yorkers travel to and through Manhattan’s Central Business District without a car. The project follows the implementation of NYC’s Congestion Pricing Program, which generated $159 million and reduced road collisions in its first three months.
DOT Commissioner Rodriguez stated:
We’ve seen record-high bicycle ridership in the city because we’ve provided safe, meaningful connections to riders commuting within and across the boroughs. By reclaiming the south outer roadway for pedestrians, we’re helping create comfortable connections for the growing number of pedestrians and cyclists on the bridge, as well as helping all New Yorkers get around more easily without a car.
Beyond the Queensboro Bridge, the MTA also announced the completion of fully accessible bike and pedestrian paths on the Robert F. Kennedy, Henry Hudson, and Cross Bay Bridges.