Brooklynites living near the Manhattan Bridge are frustrated with the influx of tourists who come for Instagram photos, bringing along a surge of vendors, litter, and pests.
The problem has escalated as platforms like Instagram and TikTok promote the picturesque views in DUMBO, attracting out-of-town visitors eager to capture the scene.
“They’re not really respectful of everyone else in the neighborhood – they’re more concerned about taking selfies in front of the bridge,” said local resident Audra Gullo.
“There’s garbage on the streets, there’s more food vendors. … Sometimes there’s 10 to 15 [tour] buses lined up,” she added. “All of that goes hand in hand.”
Another resident noted, “They’ve basically taken over Washington Street.”
“When you drive down the street, they’ll pound on your car, and they won’t get out of the street,” they said.
Residents observed that crowding started becoming an issue about five years ago, and complaints about the situation have reportedly been ignored.
“We’re losing the essence of our neighborhood,” one resident expressed during a virtual town-hall meeting focused on local quality-of-life concerns. “The neighborhood is trending … toward something like Times Square.”
City Council member Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, underscored the importance of balancing tourism with the needs of residents and workers in the community.
But some locals believe the trade-off for tourism is not worth it.
Traffic congestion has increased to the point where it can now take up to 20 minutes just to navigate a few blocks due to tourists, buses, and ride-shares, according to residents.
Eight-year DUMBO resident Rachel Johnston remarked that while tourists contribute to the local economy, the surge in their numbers has become “a nuisance” with full cafes and crowded streets.
“The Instagrammers should definitely go away,” she commented. “I just find it really obnoxious.”
Gullo raised concerns about the growing number of food vendors, which are attracting more rats to the area.
DUMBO Business Improvement District President Alexandria Sica stated that city enforcement of laws regulating street vending is critical to addressing the situation.
“Are there tourists on Washington Street? Yes, it’s literally picture-perfect,” she acknowledged. “But walk a block over, and the vibe is very local.”
French tourist Anais Schoendorf, who visited to capture the Manhattan Bridge view, said, “It’s a great view — we found it on TikTok.”
Tourists from Shanghai, Teresa Peng and Zona Chen, shared their experience of enduring the large crowds for photographs on a chilly Wednesday morning, reiterating that they discovered the location through social media.
“Everybody’s here,” Chen noted. Peng added that the area was similarly crowded during her previous visit several years back.
The influx of tourists has prompted the installation of stair risers at the corner of Water and Washington streets to accommodate more selfie-takers in the same area.
“The tourism issues … it’s impossible to walk down the sidewalk in some cases,” a DUMBO property owner remarked at the town hall.
“We have people leaving the neighborhood because they can’t stand it anymore, or people coming to look at property saying ‘I don’t want to live in an environment like this,’” she stated.
Gullo expressed a desire for an increased police presence and a reduction in both vendors and tourists crowding the sidewalks.
The city Department of Transportation is conducting a traffic study aimed at improving safety in the area, acknowledging that overtourism is a global issue.
One longtime resident expressed hope for “sustainable tourism,” criticizing the ongoing study as ineffective.
“They’re not driving any economic [benefits],” she commented on the tourist crowds. “And City Hall has completely ignored residents, prioritizing tourism instead.”
Restler acknowledged the challenges posed by illegal vending and detailed efforts to collaborate with local organizations to enhance enforcement and find solutions for pedestrian space issues caused by food carts.
Ultimately, he stated, “we don’t have the ability to stop tourists from coming into the neighborhood.”