Eight Different Brooklyn Bridges for Cyclists and Bikers

Brooklyn has not just one bridge —it's the Brooklyn Bridge, of course— but nearly two hundred bridges. Here are the seven best Brooklyn Bridges for cyclists on a bike trip through Brooklyn, or from Brooklyn to Queens or Manhattan.

Three East River Bridges for Biking from Brooklyn to Manhattan

1. Brooklyn Bridge
This mile-long bridge first was the first to span New York City's East River in 1883. It's hugely popular. And, it can be crowded with pedestrians, tourists, and bikers, especially in good weather on weekends. Cyclists are advised to stay in the bike lane and, despite the tempting grade, to slow down.
• From and To: From Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan, the southernmost crossing of the three bridges from Brooklyn into Manhattan.
• What it Crosses: East River
• Where it is: At Tillary Street and Adams Street on the Brooklyn side, and Park Row in Manhattan.
• What & Who Can Cross: This is a bridge for cars, with a broad pedestrian level that has a designated bike path. No buses or subways cross this bridge.
• Nearby attractions: Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights; many cyclists coming from Manhattan continue along bike paths to Prospect Park or Coney Island.
2. Manhattan Bridge
There's a lot of wonderful historical tidbits about the 1909 Manhattan Bridge. From the perspective of a cyclist, it's functional—and tremendously noisy. Subway cars rumble alongside the walkway, and cars race by in both directions.
• From and To: From Flatbush Avenue to Pike and Cherry Streets in Chinatown
• What it Crosses: East River
• Where it is: At the foot of Flatbush Avenue on the Brooklyn side, and City Hall in Manhattan.
• What & Who Can Cross: This is a bridge for cars and the subway, with a narrow pedestrian and bike lanes on the north and south sides. While the Manhattan Bridge is under construction, the lanes may vary; cyclists can get on a NYC list-serve to receive detour updates at manhattanbridgeoutreach@gmail.com.
• Nearby attractions: Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights Slightly further down Flatbush is Junior’s restaurant and Fort Greene.
3. Williamsburg Bridge
When it opened in 1903, this was the longest suspension bridge in the world. More recently, the NY Post has identified another record: a record of crashes that the tabloid calls the "hipster highway of horrors". Cyclists should be careful.
• From and To: Williamsburg, Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Lower East Side
• What it Crosses: East River
• Where it is: Driggs and Broadway in Williamsburg Bridge Plaza; on the Manhattan side, at Delancy Street
• What & Who Can Cross: This is a bridge for cars with pedestrian and bike lanes.
• Nearby attractions: Explore arty Williamsburg

Two Tiny, but Fun Historic Bridges Within Brooklyn For Biking

4. Carroll St. Bridge
A national landmark, the Carroll Street Bridge is a petite 1889 bridge over the Gowanus Canal. It is the oldest of four “rectile” bridges in America: when it opens, the bridge slides along tracks on the shore.
• From and To: Carroll Gardens to Park Slope, through Gowanus
• What it Crosses: Gowanus Canal
• Where it is: Between Hoyt and Nevins Streets
• What & Who Can Cross: This is a bridge for cars, but there’s a bike lane on the bridge, too.
• Nearby attractions: Explore arty shops, good cafes and restaurants and a Brooklyn landscape in Gowanus, Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. (Urban legend or truth? Did the Brooklyn mob dump bodies in the Gowanus Canal?)
5. Union St. Bridge
Opened in 1905, this small, seemingly rickety, 109-foot long bridge is actually a traffic workhorse, and a major throughfare through Brooklyn neighborhoods.
• From and To: Carroll Gardens to Park Slope, through Gowanus
• What it Crosses: Gowanus Canal
• Where it is: Between Nevins and Bond Streets
• What & Who Can Cross: This is a bridge for cars, but there’s a bike lane too. Union Street is a one-way street.
• Nearby attractions: Park Slope and Carroll Gardens are full of shops, eateries, and lovely architecture.
6. Marine Parkway Bridge, AKA Gil Hodges Bridge
7. Pulaski Bridge
8. Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, AKA JJ Byrne Bridge

See the official NYC Bike Map