Photo Contest
We are offering a first prize of $100, 2nd prize of $50, and a third prize of $25 for best e-photographs of a resolution of 200 or higher of the walk.
The contest is open to all vendors, tour guides, and customers!
Please send all photographs by January 15, 2011 to drphil@nycwalks.com.
Photographs will be judged by an independent photograph professional. All photographs submitted will become property of New York Talks and Walks and may be used for publicity purposes.
Winners will be announced on January 31, 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Brooklyn Bridge
1. How do we get our tickets?
You print out the confirmation of your purchase order on line as your ticket. In addition, we will keep a list of people that have prepaid before 6 PM New Year's Eve.
2. Do we get an actual ticket?
Your e-mail receipt will serve as your ticket.
3. Why take the tour with you instead of walking over the bridge by ourselves?
As one person wrote, "I have done the Brookyn Bridge Walk on New Year's Eve and it is good family-friendly fun. It's not just a walk over the Bridge, you get a professional tour guide giving you fun facts and the history about the bridge and the area around City Hall. A nice extra was a goodie bag with NY tee shirt, keychain and other things to ring in the New Year. The groups are about 15 people to one tour guide. Also we got a voucher for a hot drink and bakery item to have when we checked in and waited to go out. Yes, you can walk over the bridge by yourself that night, but it was fun to share it with a large group."
4. We are worried about transport to hotel at night, can't decide, I'm with a child and won't go back by subway. Do you have an alternative?
First of all, subways are perfectly safe -- no more dangerous or less dangerous than being above ground.
I would check for frequency of bus service by contacting information services of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
There are taxis. You could make arrangements with radio taxi by telephone so you don't have to worry about hailing a cab.
5. Can we walk our dog over the Brooklyn Bridge?
The Brooklyn Bridge is dog-friendly.
Pets of all kind are welcome to walk over the bridge. Back in 1884, P. T. Barnum walked 21 elephants over the bridge to show how safe it was as a publicity gimmick for his circus. The year before there had been a panick when people thought the bridge was falling down. People injured themsels in a rush to get off the bridge.
6. Will be the bridge be closed for New Year's Eve?
Except for July 4th just a few hours before the fireworks, the bridge is open 24 hours per day.
7. Are there tolls to pay when you walk across the bridge?
From 1883 to 1911, there were tolls for people of a penny per person (equivalent to a quarter today) up to ten cents for automobiles and horse riders. Since 1911, the bridge has been free. For the past few years, either the mayor or the City Council has proposed putting tolls back on the East River bridges.
8. How safe is it to walk across the bridge?
The crime rate is low. You do have to watch out for bikers and skaters that may stray into the pedestrian traffic aisle or that you stray into their lane. If snowfall should occur, the snow is quickly removed and the walkways salted down.
9. Will there be people on the bridge?
People walk across the bridge all the time.
10. Can I walk across the bridge by myself?
Of course. We are offering a service for people that want to enjoy themselves.
11. Can I drink something alcoholic on the bridge?
Officially no. The police have better things to do. Although we do not provide alcoholic beverages of any kind, you can bring your own.
12. How long is the walk?
The bridge is a mile long. We are five blocks away from the bridge. If you take the early walk at 10:15 PM, we will also do part of the City Hall Park on the way to the bridge. The tour would then last 1 hour 45 minutes. If you take the 11:15 tour, the walk most likely then cover about 3/4 of a mile in 45 minutes. In all walks, we try to get you into optimal viewing position just before the fireworks begin.
13. Will I see fireworks?
Based upon past experience, we should be able to see fireworks from several locations from New Jersey, Manhattan Island, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and elsewhere. However, there is no guarantee as where the fireworks will be placed and set off.
14. Is there an age limit?
We have no age limits on how old or how young you are to walk the bridge.
15. Is there a special price for children?
No. We have one family price for all. Children under 8 years of age are free.
16. Why is it cheaper by credit card than paying cash to take a tour?
This way you can have a small group experience because we will be able to anticipate public demand by knowing how many guides we need to provide.
17. When is the last tour?
For the absolute late cometers, we plan on 11:30 PM. After that, we will no longer have any guides available.
18. Will I get the same time devoted to a tour when I get there later a opposed to someone who took it earlier?
The later you arrive, the less time you have to spend on the tour. We are leaving later so less information provided in the time that remains.
Affordable Private Tours across the Brooklyn Bridge for New Year's Eve
Have you own private tour for New Year's Eve at a discount price. For $200, a group of six can have its own private tour with every additonal person at $35. You can arrange to have dinner before hand or we can meet you at a convenient location of your choosing. Contact our sales office at (718) 591-4741.
