What's this "bike lane/path" on the Brooklyn Bridge that everyone keeps referring to? The Brooklyn Bridge only has two lanes, none of which allow the free movement of bicycles (hence cannot be called a "bike lane"). One is for very slow moving pedestrian traffic (0.1 mph) and the other is for stopping and taking selfies. The selfie lane has paint markings that from afar may resemble a bicycle, but closer inspection will reveal that it is actually a selfie stick with an iphone 6! Those two big circles that look like bicycle wheels are actually meant to represent people's heads! In terms of actually riding the bike, its probably easier to pedal your bike across the river than it is to pedal across the Brooklyn bridge.
Manhattan Bridge certainly has substantially less pedestrian traffic, but don't be fooled by the separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists; most people here are commuters who ride their bike across the bridge during rush hour. During midday and sometimes on weekend, you'll encounter quite a few pedestrians walking on the Manhattan Bike path. Even in this cold weather I regularly encounter them.
If you want scenic riding definitely ride the Queensboro and Williamsburg bridges. Once you get off the Queensboro bridge you'll be a couple blocks away from central park. The only issue with getting to the Queensboro bridge from Brooklyn is that you'll have to ride across (or possibly dismount and walk) the Pulaski bridge. Its very short with a negligible gradient but the crossing is a very narrow shared path that can barely accommodate one lane of traffic, but somehow they managed to squeeze two (opposite direction) lanes in there. It can get very tight especially if you're riding in one direction and a cyclist is coming at you in from the other direction; best case scenario you rub shoulders, but equally likely one of you will have to dismount to allow the other to pass.
One more thing...loud...audible...BELL! Get one of those...
Last edited by yankeefan; 02-22-15 at 03:12 PM.