wellness
DUMBO Adds Protected Cycling Routes Through Brooklyn Bridge Park
Protected paths through Brooklyn Bridge Park and along the East River waterfront now give new riders and parents with children clear options for short, low-stress rides.
How we reported this
City crews finished marking two new protected bike lanes in Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 8, linking the waterfront path directly to Front Street and the entrance at Washington Street.
Interest in outdoor fitness has risen sharply in DUMBO this year, with more households looking for activities that fit around work and school schedules without requiring travel outside the neighborhood. The new markings respond to repeated requests from the DUMBO Improvement District for routes that keep riders away from heavy truck traffic on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway service roads.
Routes through two main parks
One route starts at the Pier 1 lawn in Brooklyn Bridge Park and follows the flat, 1.8-mile waterfront loop past the Jane’s Carousel and under the Manhattan Bridge to Empire Fulton Ferry State Park before returning on a separate path. The second option uses the new Front Street lane to reach Cadman Plaza Park, where riders can circle the grass on a 0.7-mile circuit that stays inside the park perimeter and avoids all intersections with cars. Both paths stay under one mile from the nearest Citibike docking station at Water Street and Main Street.
Local families have already begun using the routes on weekday evenings. The DUMBO Improvement District launched a free monthly family ride on the first Saturday of each month starting in May 2026, providing helmets and basic route maps at the start point near the Fulton Ferry Landing. Participation reached 48 riders in June, according to the district’s posted attendance sheet.
Practical details and costs
Citibike day passes cost $15 and allow unlimited 30-minute rides, while the Bike and Roll rental kiosk near the Manhattan Bridge charges $25 for a full day on a standard hybrid or $40 for a child trailer attachment. A 2025 New York City Department of Transportation count recorded 4,200 bicycle trips per weekday on the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront path, with 28 percent involving riders under age 12.
Beginners can start with the 45-minute round trip from the Pier 1 entrance to the carousel and back, staying entirely on the marked path. Helmets remain available at the DUMBO Improvement District office on Water Street for a $5 refundable deposit during weekend hours. Riders should check the park website the night before for any temporary closures tied to events at the lawn.