City officials, transportation advocates and community leaders took the inaugural walk across the newly opened pedestrian path on the Queensboro Bridge’s South Outer Roadway on Sunday, May 18.
The ceremonial march was led by Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, City Council Member Julie Won, and representatives from the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. They were joined by residents and activists from across the five boroughs to mark the completion of the long-awaited infrastructure upgrade.
“For too long, pedestrians and cyclists have been forced to navigate a narrow, shared pathway,” said Mae Francke, Queens Organizer for Transportation Alternatives. “This new, expanded space means greater safety for all, and will help prevent countless injuries and crashes.”
Until this week, pedestrians and cyclists shared a single 11-foot-wide lane on the bridge, which serves more than two million bike trips annually, in addition to heavy foot traffic. The overcrowded conditions fueled years of advocacy and calls for reform.
“Bridges are for people, and now the Queensboro Bridge is for everyone,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “We’ve been fighting for this for years, and this achievement is the result of tireless efforts from advocates, city officials, and everyday New Yorkers who demanded a safer solution.”
The project is part of the city’s broader Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities. The new pedestrian-exclusive path now mirrors similar safety upgrades made to the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, establishing a consistent approach to bridge access across the city.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called the path “transformative,” emphasizing the years of planning that led to its completion. “This project has been years in the making, and I’m thrilled the pedestrian path is finally open. It will significantly enhance safety for those crossing the bridge on foot,” Levine said.
Council Member Julie Menin added that the project addresses long-standing congestion and safety concerns. “Through continued advocacy, we are finally seeing the reclaiming of the South Outer Roadway for pedestrians, which was badly needed,” she said.
With summer ridership expected to surge, officials anticipate the Queensboro Bridge will see record levels of non-vehicular use. The opening of the pedestrian path not only improves safety but also signals the city’s ongoing commitment to building more inclusive, people-centered transportation infrastructure.
