A little over a year that Mayor Eric Adams and traffic officials banned illegal street sale at the Brooklyn bridge, sellers have returned. Dozens of illegal carts that sell from caps and souvenirs to food aligned a recent Monday afternoon.
Our sister publication, Amnewyork, visited the emblematic bridge several times this month, the most recent on August 25. Before even stepping on the iconic crossing on the East River, five sellers enthusiastically offered caps, fruit and water to passersby.
But the activity intensified when a reporter began the classic walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn. More than 30 illegal vendors blocked parts of the narrow walk, which at its widest point measures only 16 feet (about 4.8 meters). Most concentrated on the side of Manhattan and in the center of the bridge, although some also occupied space on the Brooklyn side.
“It’s part of New York’s experience,” says tourists
While hundreds of people walked through the historic bridge, taking photos of the urban landscape, the vendors offered their products.
Lisa, a London tourist, reviewed the articles. He did not bother him that the improvised positions occupied space on the side of Manhattan.
“It’s fun and part of New York’s experience,” he said.
Miguel walked with his family when he stopped to buy fresh fruit on a sunny day.
“It is very refreshing to buy cold fruit when you cross the bridge, especially on a very hot day,” he said smiling.
Despite the support of some tourists, the sale on the bridge remains illegal.
Last year, Mayor Adams promoted rules that expressly prohibit the sale in the pedestrian walks of the Brooklyn bridge and in all bridges administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Officials cite the safety of pedestrians and the security of the bridge as reasons for the prohibition.
“New Yorkers and millions of visitors who arrive every year in our city should be able to enjoy the Brooklyn bridge without obstacles that put pedestrian safety and mobility at risk,” said Dot Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez, last year. “These rules would make pedestrian traffic safer and more easy, so the United States Eiffel Tower is considered and would allow the world’s famous view of the New York port.”
Amnewyork consulted DOT to confirm whether the ban is still in force. The agency confirmed yes, but sent follow -up questions to the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Amnewyork awaits the police response for this report.
Vendors with iconic views
Since the Brooklyn bridge is a very popular tourist attraction, it is not surprising that sellers seek to place themselves there to maximize their profits. In fact, the international car rental company Sixt located at the Brooklyn bridge this month as the second bridge with the most iconic views of the United States, behind the Golden Gate in San Francisco.
Until now, in 2025 more than 22,000 complaints have been received about street vendors, although it is not clear how many correspond to bridges in the city.
The presence of vendors on the bridge occurs after the Adams veto to a bill of the municipal council that would have decriminalized the illegal street sale. Members of the Council and Defenders of the Project stated that it would have protected deportation sellers, since 96 % of the 23,000 sellers in the city are immigrants.
Queens Shekar Krishnan councilor, sponsor of the project that Adams blocked, told Amnewyork that the current street sales system is “broken” and that people face many challenges to enter this industry.
“There are huge barriers to working class and immigrants who work as street vendors. They provide enormous cultural value to our streets, but they often have difficulty entering due to excessive bureaucracy. Therefore, the council worked in a package of laws to create an accessible system. The mayor has seen it, which will encourage more people to try to avoid evading obsolete bureaucratic processes,” he explained.
He added that the obstacle imposed by the mayor will cause “unnecessary” execution expenses and less public education about what is legal and illegal to sell on the street.
“I suggest that the mayor works to create effective systems that provide economic opportunities to working families, but it seems that he is too busy demonizing immigrants to distract from their own deficiencies,” Krishnan concluded.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Council announced that it considers what measures to take in response to the veto. Amnewyork contacted the mayor’s office for comments and wait.
