Security and Lighting

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Security is a constant worry on bridges that separate cyclists and pedestrians from motor vehicles, since thieves can find quiet places to wait and act unseen. In addition, the narrow sidepaths on city bridges render the cyclist easy prey. Police are lax in patrolling bridges, claiming that the bridges are among the safest part of their beats. But thefts do occur, leaving potentially injured victims stranded. Even occasional patrols by bike- or scooter-using police officers would let thieves know that cyclists on bridges are not an easy mark.

Police call boxes are not always installed or maintained. Neither the Williamsburg nor Queensboro Bridges has call boxes, and those on the Brooklyn Bridge work only sporadically (if one is off the hook, no others function). Solar-powered cellular call boxes have proven reliable on area highways and should be installed on all nonmotorized bridge lanes. These boxes automatically dial 911, and the operator who answers then calls the precincts on both ends of the bridge, sealing off the criminal's escape routes.

Because bridge jurisdiction is split between the two boroughs at either end, there is a diffusion of responsibility when theft does occur. Police procedures should be coordinated to ensure that a direct call to a precinct on one side causes a call to the opposite side as well, or each bridge should be placed specifically in a single precinct.

More fundamentally, inadequate lighting on bridge pathways is a major deterrent to nighttime return commutes, particularly in fall and winter. While some, like the Brooklyn and George Washington bridges, are well-lit, other heavily-traveled spans are chronically under- or unlit, especially the Queensboro and the Williamsburg. Good lighting must be made an integral component of any bridge pathway, just as it is on any urban roadway; otherwise, the path will be only partially functional.