The Manny B. is a very underrated bridge. If you're ever lucky enough to come to a long stand-still on the north bound Upper Deck, near or past the middle, get out of the car and soak in the view of Manhattan Island. It's like looking at a jeweled wall map. Especially at night. The walkway have a 1970's, Taxi Driver kind of atmosphere. Nothing but decay when you look down and out, and rumbling trains when you look in. The exit in Brooklyn is a filthy mess...I love it. read more

The only problem with this bridge is the line that forms off the exit ramp to the BQE. Pain in my You-Know-Where. Always traffic on the exit ramp. I can't stand that. It's the closest bridge to me but because of this traffic. I take another East River Crossing. I like any bridge with a walkway. There are definitely less people on the Manhattan Bridge than the Brooklyn Bridge. Actually feels a bit secluded. I guess if you don't want a million people around this would be the bridge to walk on. The walkway feels closed in...You can't really see much past the fences. The fences are high up and make seeing the views difficult. Walking across any bridge is fun though. There are emergency phones along the walking path. And it a nice quiet walk. read more

Horrible, ugly bridge only useful since the trains go over it. I feel like it has been under construction for my entire life. Isn't it fixed yet? If you are driving over it...be prepared for a bumpy ride. And never, ever walk over it-that's why we have the Brooklyn bridge! At least its free! read more

A poem from someone who lives in Two Bridges - Oh, Mr. Manhattan Bridge, How your trains rumble and tumble. SHAKE! SHAKE! My apartment. An eyesore, a bore? A noise pollutor? (poetic license here) Nay, A true city sight. read more

Less popular than the Brooklyn Bridge, but arguably a better (?) view of Manhattan. I mean, both views are great but the view you get from the Manhattan Bridge is a bit more unique. The bridge starts off in Manhattan near Chinatown and ends in Brooklyn...well in Brooklyn. The entrance to the Manhattan Bridge on both sides is pretty nondescript, and I wouldn't be caught dead here alone when it's late at night. The bridge is concrete (not wood like the Brooklyn Bridge) and has a lot of interesting graffiti. Both the Brooklyn and Manhattan sides of the bridge cross through some neighborhoods and also you get a nice bird's eye view of some neighborhoods. The NQR trains run through here and right on the side of the pedestrian crossing so it does get pretty loud. Overall, if you want a nice stroll without a million tourists or crazy bikers, I'd walk this bridge rather than the Brooklyn Bridge. read more

The bridge is the lifeblood of Manhattan as millions of Brooklynites flood the city each day by train, car, truck, bikes(?) and by foot.

Definitely never as crowded as its neighbor, the Manhattan Bridge is my go to spot for running, though I've never done so in the dark. Iconic in its own way, the journey to and from Brooklyn to Chinatown, and its views of the river, are can't miss. And if you're into trains, you'll see plenty passing by on your trek, cascading the blue-grey veneer of the bridge, and brusquely interrupting your podcast listening. Driving-wise, I do prefer the BK Bridge mostly because of where it exits (on both sides) but if I need to get up the east side quickly this is your go-to bridge (even more than the Willy'burg, to me). read more

No quite as beautiful and symbolic as the Brooklyn bridge, but like Julie K I'm glad that it's there. I'm also on the Q line and I agree that the view of Manhattan from the Q is breathtaking. I didn't like walking across this bridge. The walking path was narrow and we share it with bikers, not a good idea! Bikes were flying by me and freaking me out. It was almost as if they were hinting us never to walk on this bridge again because it belong to them. Don't worry bikers, I agree with you, you guys should keep this one. Another thing I didn't like was being on the lower level of the bridge, I could see the water and it was making me dizzy and nauseous. Although, all the jet skies and boats in the water looked so cute from up there. read more

Somehow I was convinced to walk to Brooklyn after eating in Chinatown via the Manhattan bridge. Initially, it seemed like an ok feat and I accomplished it but I think doing it once in life is plenty. Lots of graffiti everywhere but it did have some incredible views. The subway whizzes loudly pass you probably a dozen times. Must say I'm pretty proud of myself. read more

Manhattan Bridge - Shot through a tiny hole in the chain link fence - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Nice bike ride. Overlooking water of course, and Chinatown, bike subway cars, few people, some shade even. Nice, nice. So what if there's some stairs. The Brooklyn side is sketchy but that'll just keep it from being overrun by Fodors and Michelin Guide tourists. Once there was a biker ahead of me with a Lascaux tattoo - I've been wanting to graffitti Lascaux bison on that bridge ever since. Crazy thing though, and I feel I have to warn you - I've lost a $20 bill on the bike lane, and not once, but twice! If anybody's seen those, please return them - I'll buy you a cup of coffee! Also, to get to the bridge on the Brooklyn side from the Williamsburg Bank Building (whatever it's called these days), don't get on Atlantic - instead, get right on Ashland and pass the Brooklyn Academy of Music, keep going straight until you go THROUGH a tenement area, there's fencing on either side of the road at that point, go under an overpass or two, mindful of lots of potholes, and where the huge towing station is to your right you'll turn left, continuing to be mindful of lots of potholes, two lights (I think two, maybe three), and then kind of U-turning around to the entrance. To access the bridge so directly without enountering traffic or many lights is triple cool. Trust me. I'll upload a photo too. It is the only good photograph I ever took, so please be nice. read more

Manhattan Bridge - Add a Caption (optional) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

As every bridge in NYC (Well maybe almost all, but at least the main bridges), it is amazing site. The Manhattan Bridge runs from downtown Manhattan, around Chinatown, to downtown Brooklyn and it is sometime great alternative for the BK Bridge. There are three ways to get across the bridge, bike/foot path, cars and subways, but I guess the last two are not why we are here for lol. The view driving from either side is beautiful, day or night, and you must drive it on each direction at least once. The bad: If you walk it, the subway that run every minute really make it less fun. I guess they tried to staff too much on one bridge. Walked it on Tuesday, too noisy. read more

I love this bridge. Let me say it again. I love this bridge. For ages I've been trying to find the entrance to this bridge, only to recently realize that the entrance in Brooklyn was a 10-12 minute walk away from my home. I walked over it this past weekend, with my Canon in tow. Went all the way to Chinatown. Was an amazing experience. Next week I will be starting my running routine on this bridge. I actually like this bridge much better than the BBridge, because there are less people and I do not have to worry about bumping into tourists and the like. It's a free roaming kind of bridge. read more

I dig the Manhattan Bridge. It's a beautiful looking bridge (not like some of the others) that was opened in 1909. The bridge is 336' tall and connects DUMBO, Brooklyn (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), with Chinatown in Manhattan. The bridge has lanes for cars on both the upper and lower sections as well as tracks on the lower section for the B/D/N/Q trains. In addition the lower level has a pedestrian lane on the southern side (which has a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge) and a biking lane on the northern side (decent view of Manhattan). The fact that the biking lane is paved and separated from pedestrians makes it a much more enjoyable ride than the bumpy and occasionally dangerous ride across the Brooklyn Bridge. Due to structural defects and improper maintainance the bridge began to sway with the movement of the trains in the 80s and full subway service didn't resume until 2004. Like the Brooklyn Bridge (and unlike the Verazzano Bridge) there is no toll to go across. If you'd like to simply admire the bridge and take some great photos of that and the Brooklyn Bridge or just relax and have a picnic then the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park is a great place to go (just take the A/C train to High Street, or the F train to York St). PHOTO TIP: If you'd like a good view of this bridge (besides the one in the park below) with good lighting with the city and the Empire State Building behind it get onto the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side (and go about 1/4 up) pretty much anytime before the sun starts to go down (usually morning is pretty good). read more

Something about bridges is just amazing to me. The architecture. The construction. And how it affects everyone everyday. And we don't even stop to think about it. A true man made beauty. Worth visiting for sure! read more

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For cyclists, this is the absolute best bridge to move between Brooklyn and Manhattan. There's a large, smooth, dedicated bike path. In the winter, the DOT does a great job of keeping it clear and salted for year round cyclists like myself. The entrance and exit to the bike path is well labelled and easy to get to. Pedestrians use the south side, which has all of the best views, in my opinion. Viewing from the train is equally as nice, especially when you've spent the past 45 minutes underground. Pro-tip: Watch out for joggers who run in the bike path! There are a lot of clueless joggers during the spring and summer who take the bike path instead of the pedestrian path. I've seen some nasty crashes here between people jogging two or three abreast and cyclists bombing the bridge. Cyclists, get a bell or horn! Joggers, stay on your side! It's nicer anyway! read more

We all know one end is in Chinatown, but where is it in Brooklyn? I crossed this Bridge when MTA does not run. I walked over this when it was the blackout, and also 9/11. This bridge is really not that fun to walk over. It's not as pretty as the Brooklyn Bridge. What it is, is the pathway of the N and the D trains as it shoots into Brooklyn. When the trains hit the bridge, everyone on the subway takes out their cell phones and checks their voicemails, call their friends to tell them they're running late or continuing a conversation over txt. Bridges are better than tunnels. Even though we've seen it a thousand times, we love looking at the river and blank out for a few seconds. New York, we love you. read more

This is an excellent bridge to bike across simply due to the fact more people use the Brooklyn Bridge for walking and can get in the way. The Manhattan Bridge has trains that go over it but there is no stop on the bridge. I don't suggest walking over during the night it is kind of scarey the way the walkway is setup with lighting. There are several locations that allows great photo ops. On the Manhattan side.of the bridge it is Chinatown nice shops food. The other side is a cross between Escape From New York & West Side Story. read more

Was able to see this famous NYC icon from Chinatown. Didn't have a chance to walk across into Brooklyn, but took many pictures admiring its beauty. read more

1. Brooklyn Bridge over Manhattan Bridge for its beauty. 2. Brooklyn Bridge wins over Manhattan Bridge for best bridge to walk over, but Manhattan Bridge wins for least crowded bridge. 3. From a driving stand point, eh pick the bridge that doesn't have traffic. 4. No choice, but to take this bridge if you're taking the R, N, D, B, Q trains. 5. Still a good place to jog or bike over to Manhattan. 6. If you're at the Manhattan Bridge, you do get a nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge or deal with the sounds of subways passing by. read more

I love the view from here at night. However I hate taking this bridge because it drops you off in china town where the traffics is always crazy read more

This bridge is quite a multitasker. Trains, cars, bikes, pedestrians.....you got it all! Living closer to Flatbush, this one is our bridge of choice. The only pain in the ass is the traffic on Bowery and sometimes Flatbush at night. When riding my bike into the city, I definitely prefer the m'tan bridge vs brooklyn bridge. It's nice to have the walkers and bikers separate. Although, there have been a lot of skaters on the biking side....that really ruins my flow sometimes. The bike lanes leading up to the bridge have improved as well. And of course, you can't beat the view! read more

It ain't the Brooklyn bridge... but it's still a cool view from up there.

Best view of the Brooklyn bridge. Better looking than the Williamsburg.

While the Brooklyn bridge is a bridge for tourists, the Manhattan bridge is definitely one for residents, along with the Williamsburg bridge. Why? 1. Separation of bike and walking lanes 2. Subway wise, the superior route to and from Brooklyn, skipping the financial district entirely! A bittersweet moment was when the hurricane threw the Montague Tubes out of service - while it cost millions to fix, it also meant that the R train crossed the bridge as well, and that the N train crossed it at all hours, rather than snaking 5 or 6 stops down past Canal St before hitting Brooklyn. I know that's selfish compared to people who need the service to the FiDi, but come on: there's already SO MUCH redundant subway service to that part of town. Y'all would be able to deal. As a parting note, the bridge also has value for tourists because you obviously can't take a picture of the whole Brooklyn Bridge while standing on it. But from the Manhattan bridge? You're good! read more

The Brooklyn Bridge's shinier, metallic brother. Less foot traffic than it's counterpart and hence better for biking over without having to worry about the oblivious tourist, or local, just stepping right in front of you while you're clocking 30MPH. When your subway is on the bridge it's the perfect time to check your email/voicemail/send-a-text. read more

There's always construction on this bridge. Great view though!

This is a much better bridge to walk across in my opinion than the Brooklyn Bridge. It is less known, less flashy, a bit more gritty, and actually a better way to walk into DUMBO (if so inclined) or Chinatown than the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a bit scary walking across the bridge as you are walking/biking next to the railroad tracks, but you get much better views to take pictures than if you were on the crowded Brooklyn Bridge. The best part is that bikers and walkers are supposed to use opposite sides of the bridge so one conceivably does not have to worry about getting mowed down by the psycho biker racing across or the biker does not have to weave around idiot walkers/tourists infringing on the bike lane like on the Brooklyn Bridge. read more

I like walking and driving across this bridge more because it is not as crowded as the Brooklyn Bridge. Even though it is not as pretty as the Brooklyn Bridge. You still have views of the East river and the Manhattan skyline. It is louder because of the trains crossing over. I walk over this bridge when I don't want to drive to Chinatown or Little Italy. I also driving across it because there is alot less traffic to enter then the Brooklyn Bridge which on some days can save me alot of time. One side is for walkers/runners and one side for bikers. Even though it is not iconic like the Brooklyn Bridge it is still one of my favorite bridges. read more

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Unfortunately it plays second fiddle to the Brooklyn bridge in romantic image, but this bridge is a work horse and deserved appreciation. read more

Manhattan Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

I'm slowly appreciating this bridge. The only hard part is getting on from either sides as a driver and also avoiding getting on as a driver. Finding your entrance is sometimes hard to maneuver from the correct lanes on canal from the wrong ones. Also, once you hit a certain point of no return, you are trapped going from one borough to the next. It isn't so hard if you follow your GPS to the word of bearing left or right. Or just get to know the place. read more

Agree with other reviewers in that it may get a little complicated to properly approach this bridge from Canal street. The views, especially of downtown are very nice when I'm walking and having the time to stop appreciate them. For drivers, yes, the right lane exit towards the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is perenially clogged. Crafty cabs always pass on the left and enter the left lane of the exit from the middle lane of the bridge and then try to cut in front of those who waited in the rightmost lane.Late at night, with little traffic, the bridge is excellent for gettting to the BQE from Manhattan. read more

When going over to the manhattan side always get stuck in traffic because of the light that is made for the intersection. This is why i tend to stay away from this bridge and drive more on the brooklyn bridge. I use this bride for mostly train purposes and always get caught in a line trying to enter the bridge. Always here my favorite words "we are delayed because of train traffic ahead" read more

My favorite bridge for running. As a runner in Brooklyn, it's disappointing that they Brooklyn Bridge it's always crowded with tourists stopping to take pictures in the middle of the path, and bikers whipping through the tourists, with no hard separator for the bike lane. However the Manhattan Bridge is only a few blocks away from the Brooklyn Bridge, on both the Brooklyn and Manhattan sides, and has much wider sidewalks with totally separate bike and pedestrian lanes. Walking or running across the manhattan bridge is much more pleasant than the Brooklyn bridge, and gives you views of Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, AND the Brooklyn bridge. It's about 1.5 miles end to end, and a nice walk for a tourist, or run for a NYC runner looking to get in a hilly miles or two, uninterrupted by lights, traffic, tourists and bikers. read more

Prefer it to the BK Bridge, mainly because it's less lauded/legen--wait for it--dary. Walk it and respect it. read more

Manhattan Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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For anyone that wants to walk, run or bike to Manhattan as well as wanting to avoid pedestrian traffic then this is one of the best bridges to do those things. read more

Great biking bridge, horrible walking bridge. If you want to walk, head just a bit farther south to the Brooklyn bridge. It's much prettier, flatter, and well policed. The Manhattan bridge is ugly, steep, and heavily sectioned off, perfect for biking without running into confused tourists or people on their phones getting in your way. The only problem is that when the subway trains roll by it's so loud that you can hear it through your earbuds. read more

Great for biking! Way quicker than Brooklyn Bridge. Saw some great bikes and serious bikers on this bridge.

I've driven this over 50x & have taken the Q or B train over it daily for last 3 years so I know it all too well & it's nearly always a pleasure. It gracefully & efficiently serves a crucial connection. Unlike lesser crossings which even underwater ones have just 1-3 lines on them, this big boy has 6 subway lines over it and still has room for 6 lanes of traffic on 2 levels & the very popular biking/walking path on BOTH sides. That's in addition to the generous view lines from all modes of it which are beautiful as it's just at a great bend, near the famously perfect Brooklyn Bridge ones and able to see all the way up into Queens. The height & grace of the bridge's form are pleasing even when in a rush on commutes. The traffic is aways better than that of the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, especially on weekends when it seems there's a rush for the Bk Br yet most forget about this one. Fine with me! read more

I recently took a walk on this bridge after having taken a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge earlier that day. However, I had walked the Brooklyn Bridge years ago as well, and see the BB from my home window every day. So which do I prefer? This steely blue wonder. And I'll tell you why. But first, Why do people like the Brooklyn Bridge? Because it's old? Because it's rusty? (Truly, it is rusty. Walk it and look at the part that separates the walk way with the car lanes...yeesh, talk about tetanus). Because it's brown? Because you're walking on boardwalk-like wooden planks? All of those factors truly turn me off. My walk on the Brooklyn bridge that morning wasn't special or exceptional, especially considering the tourist action going on, and the constant waiting for the slow walkers to move it. And if there's one thing a native New Yorker hates from day one, or grows to hate, it's tourists. Sorry tourists.. But anyway, in comes the Manhattan Bridge. Not only enticing because of its steely blue color, I dared my friends and I to walk it because it seemed.. different. Then when we found it on the Brooklyn side on this sort of grassy hill, I realized: this is the bridge that's in Chinatown that has all the trains running through it! I know, I should've realized earlier, what with me living two blocks from Chinatown and all, but I didn't. I was a little freaked out. We stepped onto the blue bridge. My friends instantly fell in love, even with the trains bustling by. The noise wasn't too disturbing: as New Yorkers, we were somewhat immuned to the noise of the trains. But we still heard it. It was kind of annoying in the middle of conversations, but not overly annoying. My friend exclaimed, "this bridge is SO New York!" as the D train bustled by, and I realized she was completely right. I kept walking along and noticed the slight grittyness of the bridge: the gates that line the sides of the bridge so people can't fall or jump out, the solid walk way (as opposed to the Brooklyn Bridge's unstable feeling planks), and some of the graffiti along the way, and I liked this bridge more and more. My other friend said, "this bridge has character". This friend had walked both the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges at that point, and Manny B turned out her favorite. We encountered far more bikers than runners, but even then, it was only a maximum of around 10 bikers. We encountered 2-3 walkers, one of which was a woman peacefully reading as she walked. The view gives you a much different perspective than the Brooklyn Bridge, and I like it more because the walk ways are on the sides of the bridge (thus providing a better view... as well as a more daring/scary one, depending how scared of heights you are. Either way, you cannot fall). On the Brooklyn Bridge, you walk in the middle and the cars are on your sides. Not as fun. Bottom line: this bridge is more secluded, and dare I say even peaceful than the Brooklyn Bridge, even with all the trains running through it about 3 feet away from you and the bike dodging. It's also a much more quintessentially New York bridge; a little rougher around the edges but packed full of character. Plus, it's blue! And not a tourist trap in the least. Do tourists even know this bridge is walkable? Haha. The trains would probably freak them out.. read more

The Manhattan Bridge has always been overshadowed by its big brother the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm one of the few people who prefer the Manhattan Bridge over the Brooklyn Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge carries 4 subway lines. It also carries vehicles that are too large to use the Brooklyn Bridge. And while the Manhattan Bridge is not as pretty as the Brooklyn Bridge, it is not an eyesore. Almost every episode of Gossip Girl featured a shot of the Manhattan Bridge (I'm probably the only straight male who enjoyed watching that series). Dan Humphrey, my least favorite character in the series, lived in the red loft next to the bridge. Whenever I have free time, I like to walk across both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. I usually begin near the City Hall subway station. I enjoy the stroll across the majestic Brooklyn Bridge. Then, I get off at the first exit on the Brooklyn side (NOT the main exit at the end of the bridge). After I walk down the stairway, I make a left and then a right. I walk down Prospect Street (towards the Jehovah's Witness building). At Pearl Street, I make a right. Then, at Sands Street, I make a left. I then walk towards the entrance of the Manhattan Bridge (right side of Sands Street). For some reason, the walk across the Manhattan Bridge is harder than the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Maybe it's because the Manhattan Bridge has a higher incline. When I'm done with my cardio workout, I reward myself by buying those delicious Chinese mini cakes on Canal Street. You can see lower Manhattan from the walkway (and Midtown Manhattan from the bike path on the North side), but you can't see the beautiful, massive towers of the Manhattan Bridge (minus one star). It seems like the Manhattan Bridge has been under perpetual construction for the past 30 years. I'm not an engineering expert, but the Manhattan Bridge has a major design flaw. Trains, the heaviest load, use the outer sections of the bridge (instead of the center section like the Williamsburg Bridge). This causes the bridge to twist whenever a train crosses it (deflection theory). In order to prevent the bridge from collapsing, the city has to constantly maintain it (minus one star). If I was a petite lady, I would not feel safe walking on the walkway at night. I should also point out that the walkway is adjacent to the subway. Whenever a train passes by, the walkway starts to vibrate (see previous paragraph). Nevertheless, while the Manhattan Bridge is far from perfect, it is my favorite out of the BMW crossings. read more