But hey! We all get desperate.
While Brooklyn Bridge is a part of everyday life for every New Yorker it is also a famous tourist spot for, not just for tourists from all over the world, a newbie New Yorker (like me!) and you can’t get rid of that.
The good thing about it is I got reunited with York St, which I first step foot on a couple of months back (refer to my previous post) while exploring Brooklyn.
It was the same station we got off on.
We walked toward the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. I thought we’re gonna walk the Bridge from where it literally starts but we ended up finding a clump of tourists and decided to follow them and they lead us to a stairs under the bridge and there hangs a sign that says “entrance.” The stair goes up straight to the walkway for tourists.
While to many, especially those from other countries, Brooklyn Bridge is just for private vehicles – and yes, you’re correct. So you’re probably asking what the hell am I talking about? Right? In the middle of the Bridge is a walkway especially designed for tourists so they can walk without having to worry getting hit by a passing car. We can really say that Brooklyn Bridge is not just for a four-wheeled vehicle but also for two feet.
The walkway is divided in to two parts; the “walk lane” for people who prefers to walk and a “bike lane” for those who wants to ride their bike.
walk lane (right) bike lane (left)
Putting up a bike lane was pretty annoying. Majority of the people wants to walk and the space of the walk lane was not enough so the tourists were walking really close to each other and there were instances when you and your friends will not notice that you’re already walking on the bike lane, because you want to take some photographs, until these annoying bikers ring the bells attached on their bike to signal that they were coming (and coming fast!) and that you will make you step back on the walk lane.
Remove the bike lane!
On a lighter note, it was, without a doubt, an amazing experience. A few years ago, Brooklyn Bridge was just a landscape picture hanging against the white wall in my living room and the experience of crossing it was surreal.
The mandatory tourist-y post
It was comfortable enough, despite the annoying bikers, there were benches that you can sit on when you’re tired of walking. The great thing about this is that your coffee break has just become cooler. If you work close enough to Brooklyn Bridge I suggest you drag your friends during your break time and enjoy your cups of coffee on the Bridge. Ditch the cozy sofas of Starbucks! Get out and enjoy a great view of the Manhattan Skyline, the East River and everything in it. How wonderful is that?
Sorry Starbucks I love your comfy sofas but I will always choose this.
If you’re from New York and thinking about going to Paris Love Locks or Korea Namsan Tower to “lock” together with your partner guess what? You don’t need to fly three thousand miles.
Brooklyn Love Locks
Spotted: a dozen of love locks locked to the Bridge. This ritual is done by, obviously, lovers and they throw away the key to the East River to symbolize unbreakable love. It is also famous in a lot of countries particularly Paris being the first city to popularize the love lock culture.
and there are vandalisms too!
NYPD’s are also sprinkled in the walkway making sure the safety of everyone. Let’s just hope that they won’t remove any of the locks!
I enjoyed walking too much that I didn’t notice we’re already in the borough of Manhattan. Turns out that Brooklyn Bridge was not too long as I thought. It’s hundred percent walkable (is that even a word?).
wanderlass 