South 5th St, Williamsburg

The Williamsburg Bridge is the last of the three suspension bridges to be built across the lower part of the East River. It connects Manhattan's Lower East Side at Delancey Street with Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Like the Manhattan Bridge, it carries both automobile and train traffic, and there are no tolls. It is a walkable bridge, though noise from passing trains make it less inviting and less poetic of a trip than a Brooklyn Bridge crossing. When it was built, it held the record for the longest suspension bridge in the world, but it has traditionally lost in aesthetic comparisons with the Brooklyn Bridge, and how. It is very much an engineer's bridge, with all of its features designed for functionality and no frills. The supports have been noted as rather ponderous, and John DeWitt viciously attacked it as “vulgar”, but keep in mind the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge to which it is compared. If the Brooklyn Bridge did not exist, it is possible that not all that many complaints would be registered against the aesthetics of the Williamsburg Bridge, but good old “Willy B” is destined to forever be the ugly one, for as long as both bridges are standing. No one has written poetry about this bridge, no one has sung its praises like its more famous neighbor, but the bridge fulfills it original purpose well, which is to add an additional connector between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and to relieve traffic congestion on both sides. Commuting bikers appreciate the convenience it offers, and surely it's worth at least one crossing on foot, if only to be able to claim that you've crossed them all. It is a staple for the arty and green types who settled in Williamsburg and nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods, and commute by bike to work in Manhattan.

This street doesn’t have much going on and can be pretty scary to walk on late at night, but this is the best place to see the Williamsburg Bridge at night. It’s just relaxing to sit by east river and look at the city. Most of the buildings look old and industrial. There aren’t many pedestrians on this street, but it doesn’t seem too desolate since there are a few bars in the area.