Brooklyn Bridge Promenade, Footpath on the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan, US
The Brooklyn Bridge Promenade is a raised footpath on the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan, New York, running above the traffic lanes across the East River to Brooklyn. The wooden walkway has a separate lane for cyclists and runs the full length of the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 after more than a decade of construction led by engineers John and Washington Roebling, and it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time. The walkway was part of the original design, making it one of the first major bridges to include a dedicated pedestrian path.
The Manhattan entrance is near City Hall Park on Centre Street, while the Brooklyn entrance is at the edge of Cadman Plaza on Tillary Street. The walkway can get very crowded on weekends and in good weather, so early morning tends to be the quietest time to cross.
The promenade was originally designed to serve both pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages that needed a smoother crossing than the lower vehicle lanes. The wooden deck underfoot is one of the few remaining walkways of its kind on a major city bridge.
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