Haunting photos of the Brooklyn Bridge show how the coronavirus pandemic turned New York City into a ghost town

David SlotnickApr 25, 2020, 00:27 IST

David Slotnick/Business Insider

The Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian pathway is normally filled with tourists, commuters, and locals.
During the coronavirus pandemic and the outbreak in New York City, the nearly empty bridge — aside from a few essential commuters and cooped-up locals looking for exercise — stands as a stark illustration of how much COVID-19 has changed New York, and other localities around the world.
Scroll down for a side-by-side look at one of New York's most iconic sites.
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The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world, and one of the most heavily trafficked sites in New York. But in recent weeks, things have been different.

More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians, and 2,600 bicyclists crossed the bridge each day in 2016, the latest year for which data were available, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.

With incredible views of Manhattan's skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and easy connection between Downtown Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, the bridge is a staple for tourists, commuters, and locals looking to stretch their legs.

Normally, the bridge's pedestrian walkway and bike lanes are so crowded it can be hard to move without stopping every few steps. Even in winter or on rainy days, the bridge is usually packed.

Now, however, as the city bears what officials hope is the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, social distancing mandates remain in effect for at least another three weeks, and tourism around the world slows to an almost complete halt, the bridge is almost unrecognizable.

We went to the bridge this week to see what it's like during the age of social distancing, and what we found was haunting, eerie, and a little bit sad, a true indication of how much everyday life has changed since COVID-19.

Keep scrolling for a look at the eerie emptiness of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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New York can be New York again.

People walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, a popular New York City tourist destination, on August 20, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Image

But hopefully sooner than later ...

Pedestrians walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow, March 14, 2017 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

These are strange times.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

One thing goes without saying ...

David Slotnick/Business Insider

As most of New York stays at home to try and flatten the curve, it's hard to imagine what the city will look like when people can leave their homes en masse again.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

Biking over the bridge can be difficult when it's busy, at least one cyclist found a silver lining to the empty stretch across the East River.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

... And others just out for a stroll, a chance to stretch one's legs.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

... People getting exercise ...

David Slotnick/Business Insider

There were commuters ...

David Slotnick/Business Insider

It was clear that people were still outside for a few different reasons, even as most stay at home to help slow the spread of the virus.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

... Though some still had their faces uncovered, the sparse foot traffic making it easy to maintain social distance.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

Of those continuing to use the bridge on this Thursday afternoon, most were following city and state guidelines and requirements to wear masks ...

David Slotnick/Business Insider

The bridge certainly isn't empty, but it's nothing like the norm.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

The weekday car traffic has also slowed to a trickle, merely a shell of the stop-and-go crawl New Yorkers have come to expect.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

The tourists, usually a fixture on the bridge every single day and night, are gone.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

But the few scattered people seen in these April 2020 photos show that it's nothing like what it was before.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

A few essential commuters still take to the bridge, which offers a more socially distant commute between the boroughs than the subway or a taxi.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

Now, the pedestrian pathway on the bridge is nearly empty.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

But that was before COVID-19.

David Slotnick/Business Insider

In normal times, even lousy weather can't keep people away.

People walk across the Brooklyn Bridge as the first snowfall of the year hits New York City on November 15, 2018. Adam Gray/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Normally, the bridge is so crowded that it's hard to walk without stopping, and cyclists are left dodging pedestrians spilling over into the bike lane.

A tour group walks across the Brooklyn Bridge on August 20, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Both visitors and commuters flock to the bridge, for its famous views of Manhattan, to enjoy a walk on the nearly 140 year-old path, or for a quick and easy connection between Downtown Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.

People walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, on July 2, 2017 in New York City. Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images

Both visitors and commuters flock to the bridge, for its famous views of Manhattan, to enjoy a walk on the nearly 140 year-old path, or for a quick and easy connection between Downtown Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.

The Brooklyn Bridge is normally a bustling hotspot for tourists and locals alike.

Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Haunting photos of the Brooklyn Bridge show how the coronavirus pandemic turned New York City into a ghost town

New York can be New York again.

But hopefully sooner than later ...

These are strange times.

One thing goes without saying ...

As most of New York stays at home to try and flatten the curve, it's hard to imagine what the city will look like when people can leave their homes en masse again.

Biking over the bridge can be difficult when it's busy, at least one cyclist found a silver lining to the empty stretch across the East River.

... And others just out for a stroll, a chance to stretch one's legs.

... People getting exercise ...

There were commuters ...

It was clear that people were still outside for a few different reasons, even as most stay at home to help slow the spread of the virus.

... Though some still had their faces uncovered, the sparse foot traffic making it easy to maintain social distance.

Of those continuing to use the bridge on this Thursday afternoon, most were following city and state guidelines and requirements to wear masks ...

The bridge certainly isn't empty, but it's nothing like the norm.

The weekday car traffic has also slowed to a trickle, merely a shell of the stop-and-go crawl New Yorkers have come to expect.

The tourists, usually a fixture on the bridge every single day and night, are gone.

But the few scattered people seen in these April 2020 photos show that it's nothing like what it was before.

A few essential commuters still take to the bridge, which offers a more socially distant commute between the boroughs than the subway or a taxi.

Now, the pedestrian pathway on the bridge is nearly empty.

But that was before COVID-19.

In normal times, even lousy weather can't keep people away.

Normally, the bridge is so crowded that it's hard to walk without stopping, and cyclists are left dodging pedestrians spilling over into the bike lane.

Both visitors and commuters flock to the bridge, for its famous views of Manhattan, to enjoy a walk on the nearly 140 year-old path, or for a quick and easy connection between Downtown Brooklyn and lower Manhattan.

The Brooklyn Bridge is normally a bustling hotspot for tourists and locals alike.