The New York City Police Department admits it needs to find a way to better control the flow of pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge.
During the holiday season, the walkway on the span was so crowded that people couldn’t move.
“We do have to look at vendors to make sure they’re not clogging the sidewalk. We have to make sure that there’s nothing that’s interfering with pedestrian flow,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said.
More than 60 million tourists visited New York City in 2018 and the Brooklyn Bridge is a popular destination. One idea is to charge tourists for walking across the bridge.
“First blush, I don’t like the idea. I’ll always be willing to discuss it, but I think we’ve got a formula that’s working now. People want to come here. They want to start businesses here, they want to visit here. I’m certainly not looking to inhibit that,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The mayor said the sidewalk may need to be enlarged and there should be a crackdown on illegal vendors.
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