FORT LEE, NJ – The George Washington Bridge has a dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists, but it is not open 24 hours a day. A Bergen County man is trying to change that.
The Port Authority estimates that on an average weekday in June 2024, more than 1,100 cyclists and nearly 900 pedestrians used the bridge path. On weekends, that number rose to over 2,700 cyclists and nearly 1,500 pedestrians.
Kacy Knight, who considers himself something of a night owl, said he was shocked to find out the trail is closed from midnight to 6 a.m. seven days a week.
“I want justice to be done for people. I think this is really about freedom of movement,” he said.
Knight said he started a petition, which now has more than 600 signatures, to keep the trail open 24 hours a day.
“Especially when it comes to congestion pricing and things like that, I think there has to be give and take,” he said.
“Some people walk or run there. Some go to work early in the morning and have a very hard time getting there because the shop is closed,” says Henry Francisco, owner of the Hudson Bikes shop across the bridge.
Port Authority: Night closures are necessary
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates the bridge. A spokesman for the authority said both the south and north routes have been closed at night for decades, since 1995.
The Port Authority said it would use the night hours to clean the sidewalk, but Knight said he was willing to compromise.
“I’m in favor of simply shortening the closing times,” Knight said.
However, the port authority spokesman said that this was currently out of the question as the pedestrian walkway to the south is closed until 2026. “We are currently carrying out a $2 billion restoration of the George Washington BridgeDuring this time, nighttime closures are necessary.”
The spokesman added: “When the work is completed and the southbound carriageway reopens, we look forward to continuing discussions about night-time closures to ensure we can continue to carry out essential maintenance and cleaning works while keeping people on the bridge safe.”
Hikers and cyclists alike hope for a compromise.
Christine Sloan
