Commuters Make Their Way Across Brooklyn Bridge On Foot

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Commuters Make Their Way Across Brooklyn Bridge On Foot
12/20/2005 02:39 PM
By: NY1 News

If there was ever a question about how tough New Yorkers are they answered it Tuesday morning when thousands laced up their walking shoes and headed across the Brooklyn Bridge in freezing weather to get to work, school and wherever else they needed to go.

"I'm walking to 135th Street and I'm cold," said one commuter.

"I usually take the subway and I usually go to the gym in the morning and this is more work than going to the gym in the morning. But it's alright," added another.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge alone takes about 40 minutes. Add on the walk from home and then to the office or school in Manhattan, it meant an early start.

"I woke up early and here I am. It is 7:30. I'm trying to get to work at a quarter to 8," said a walker. "I'll try, that's all I can do right. I'm making a lot of effort."

Twenty-five years ago, Mayor Ed Koch stood on the bridge cheering people on, but that strike occurred in April, when temperatures were positively balmy.

This time, Mayor Bloomberg braved the cold and joined the crowd, saying if he's asking others to walk to work, he'll do it too. While Bloomberg was dressed like a typical New Yorker in his leather jacket and jeans, he didn't mingle much. Instead, he was surrounded by his aides, police and news crews.

The Red Cross greeted commuters on the Manhattan side, offering up relief.
"If they want to go inside and warm up they can. Chocolate, coffee, something to eat. It's a good thing," said a Red Cross representative.

Then there were some Brookstone employees, all dressed up as Santa, promoting a new product they said is perfect for the situation.

"It's an oscillating massage belt. It provides heat. It energizes and soothes your muscles. And I think people are really going to enjoy it because they are going to be stressed out today," said a Brookstone employee.

Many dealt with the stress quite well, resorting to humor.

"Yeah New York, we're going to make it, woohoo," said a driver. "I've got 5 [in the car]. We've got somebody in the trunk too. We told them to lay down," she added laughing.

"Gotta love New York," said another.