New York City Issues A Warning Not To Walk Over The Brooklyn Bridge
There are so many fun things to do in New York City during the holidays, like seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, or watching the Rockettes do their high kicks. Strolling the Brooklyn Bridge isn't traditionally a popular December activity-it gets pretty blustery up there!-and yet, the walkway got so insanely packed this holiday week that the city had to issue a warning to visitors and residents alike.
"The Brooklyn Bridge is very crowded at the moment. While this is not an emergency situation, please exercise caution if you are on the bridge and expect long wait times if you intend to visit this afternoon," tweeted the office of New York mayor Bill de Blasio. "But there are tons of places to walk on this beautiful New York day!"
While the warning sounded calm, the photos tweeted by people who were actually walking across the bridge at the time told a different story.
The Brooklyn Bridge ped path is dangerously overcrowded right now. People are pushing and yelling. @NYPDnews is sitting in their little three wheelers doing nothing about crowd control. It’s a mess. Stampede waiting to happen. Worst I’ve ever seen. @nyc311 pic.twitter.com/R1GDqDzsB6
- Charlie O'Donnell (@ceonyc) December 29, 2018
Pedestrian Traffic Jam, overcapacity on Brooklyn Bridge Stuck for 40 min,m @NYC_DOT @GridlockSam @NYPD84Pct @Gothamist pic.twitter.com/xFPRyIpvIz
- Nomadic Jules (@Nomadicjules) December 29, 2018
Stuck on the #brooklynbridge pedestrian walk for an hour now very overcrowded #nyc @NYCMayorsOffice pic.twitter.com/ReAjvYPk1l
- Nat (@hallnathalie) December 29, 2018
Why did the bridge get so crowded on a day in December? While many New Yorkers are out of town visiting their relatives for the holidays, tourists from around the country and the world pour in this vacation week to see the aforementioned Christmas-centric sights. Plus, it was a relatively balmy 50 degrees in the city yesterday, making it one of the warmer days of the break. Unfortunately, everybody had the same outdoor activity in mind.
If you're planning to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge any time soon, a few tips: Check out recent Instagram posts hashtagged #brooklynbridge to see how crowded the pedestrian walkway is in real time. And consider alternate ways to admire the landmark-Brooklyn Bridge Park is, as it sounds, perched under and around the Brooklyn side of the expanse, and is the perfect vantage point from which to snap pics or just hang out and enjoy the view.
However you enjoy the bridge, stay safe out there!
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