Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

DOT Has Closed the Queensboro Bridge Bike/Ped Path Overnight for 16 of the Past 24 Months

Without access to the north outer roadway, cyclists have to either wait for a circuitous shuttle bus or find another way over the bridge. Photo: Angela Stach

The Queensboro Bridge bike/ped path has been closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for 16 of the last 24 months while ConEdison conducts electrical repair work. Currently, a six-week closure that began on May 21 is making nighttime trips especially difficult for working cyclists. Despite the regularity of the closures, DOT still hasn't worked out a reasonable alternative for people who count on overnight access to the path.

When the closures began last spring, advocates called on DOT to make the bridge's south outer roadway available for walking and biking during the closures. (Right now, however, the south outer roadway is also closed overnight.) Instead, people who bike over the bridge at night have to make do with a circuitous shuttle bus service or find another way home.

Image: DOT
Image: DOT
Image: DOT

Rather than wait for the uncomfortable, time-consuming shuttle, Queens resident Steve Scofield has chosen the latter option. He takes the tram to Roosevelt Island, where he can bike home to Astoria.

"The shuttle bus, even with the best of intentions, it could add a good 45 minutes to an hour and a half to your trip, particularly if you’re the unfortunate person who just misses the shuttle bus, so your bike becomes the first one in and last one out," Scofield said.

From his observations, Scofield said most of the people affected by the bike path closure appear to be working cyclists heading to or from their jobs.

Opening the south outer roadway to non-motorized transport would make sense even without the closures. The current bike/ped path, on the north outer roadway, gets uncomfortably crowded during peak hours.

"The north outer roadway is getting a little bit scary during rush hours," he said. "If you get two bikes trying to pass each other at the same time two are walking abreast, it just doesn’t work."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts