In July 2003, Transportation Alternatives (T.A.), with the help of students from Recycle-A-Bicycle, polled 190 Manhattan Bridge users (159 cyclists/31 pedestrians) regarding the safety of accessing either side of the bridge's bicycle and pedestrian path. Bridge users were asked if they walked or biked across the bridge, how many times per week they crossed, their opinion of the safety of the entrances and whether or not they had crashed or had a close call while walking or biking to the Manhattan Bridge. Participants, given a blank map of the Brooklyn entrance, traced the exact route they take to the bridge.

MAJOR FINDINGS: The results show 1 in 20 bridge users crash on the Brooklyn side because of motorists. Additionally, 53% of path users report having a close call with a motorist on the Brooklyn side of the bridge and 70% of path users said pedestrian and bicyclist safety on the Brooklyn side of the bridge is dangerous or intolerable.

In Brooklyn, results showed Jay Street to be the most popular route to the Manhattan Bridge. 80% of path users walk or bike on Jay Street to get to the bridge path. No bridge users walk or bike on the DOT's signed route, which takes a quarter-mile detour.

CONCLUSION: The DOT must make pedestrian and bicyclist access safer on Jay Street. In 1996, the DOT created a sign and marking plan for Jay Street. The plan calls for installing stop and pedestrian signs and a crosswalk where the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp merges with Jay Street, precisely where most pedestrians and bicyclists access the bridge path. If implemented, the DOT's plan would make bicycle and pedestrian access to the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge much safer.

HISTORY: The Manhattan Bridge has long been off-limits to cyclists and pedestrians. When the bridge opened in 1909, bike and pedestrian paths were on the north and south sides. The paths remained open and well maintained into the 1940's and then fell into disrepair and were closed in the mid-1960's. The path reopened at 7 a.m. on June 25, 2001, marking the first time in 40 years that cyclists and pedestrians could use all East River bridges. Cyclists and pedestrians enter the path at the northeast corner of Jay and Sands Streets on the Brooklyn side and at the southeast corner of Canal Street and the Bowery on the Manhattan side.

BRIDGE USE: Cyclist's use of the bridge has skyrocketed since the path opened. The number of cyclists crossing the Manhattan Bridge between 7 and 10 am on an average August weekday increased from 152 in 2002 to 190 in 2003, increase of 25%. On an average weekday over 1,200 people walk and bike across the Manhattan Bridge.

EXISTING CONDITIONS: When the path opened dangerous conditions existed at both entrances to the path. In response to T.A., the City DOT tamed the path entrance in Manhattan by installing two stop signs, a blinking red light, and a new crosswalk. Dangerous conditions still remain at the Brooklyn entrance to the path. Traffic careens off the bridge onto Jay St. without any signs to indicate bicycle or pedestrian presence. Instead of making the Jay Street path entrance more secure, the DOT insists cyclists and pedestrians take a quarter-mile detour requiring cyclists to walk their bikes for a half a block or ride on the sidewalk.

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Manhattan Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Survey Findings:

In July 2003, Transportation Alternatives polled 190 Manhattan Bridge users (159 cyclists/31 pedestrians) regarding the safety of accessing the bridge's bicycle and pedestrian path. On an average summer weekday morning, 190 cyclists cross the Manhattan Bridge, up from 152 in 2002, an increase of 25%. Path users total over 1,200 pedestrians and cyclists on an average weekday on the Manhattan Bridge.

• 70% of path users say dangerous or intolerable conditions exist on the Brooklyn side of the bridge for pedestrian and cyclists.
• 53% of path users cite a close call with a motorist on the Brooklyn side of the bridge; 22% cite a close call on the Manhattan side.
• 5% (1 in 20) path users report a crash with a vehicle as a result of motorist/cyclist conflict on the Brooklyn side of the bridge.

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80% of pedestrians and cyclists use Jay Street to access the Brooklyn side of the bridge path. None use the DOT's signed detour for the Service Rd. 20% access the path from Sands Street.

The map below and to the left is a compilation of the routes (marked in blue) used by survey participants to walk and bike to the Manhattan Bridge path. Participants were given an unmarked copy of the map and asked to draw the route they take to the bridge path.

The DOT's sign plan (above right), which if implemented, would greatly improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on Jay Street. The plan calls for installing stop and pedestrian signs, and a crosswalk where the Manhattan Bridge off-ramp merges with Jay Street, precisely where most pedestrians and bicyclists access the bridge path.

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Manhattan Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Survey (pdf format)

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