Authored By: John Boyle | Research Director at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia | April 27, 2026

This blog first published on the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia’s blog on April 23. 

Join the FreeWalkers and the Circuit Trails Coalition for the Turnpike Gap Challenge — a marathon walk and bike ride to raise awareness and support for the inclusion of a shared pedestrian and bicycle path across the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge between Bristol, PA and Florence, NJ. Currently, making this crossing requires a 26‑mile detour up and down the Delaware River through the City of Trenton; the Turnpike Gap Challenge highlights how a direct connection would transform local active transportation, recreation, and commuting options.

Why this matters

On the existing bridge, a trip by a private vehicle or ride-share takes about 10 minutes. The tolls to cross the bridge are between $7 (from PA) and $13 (from NJ). A trip on public transit can range between 90 minutes and two and a half hours and costs about $8 per passenger.

A future 1.7-mile bridge with a shared-use path would take 12-20 minutes by bike or 35 to 50 minutes on foot, fare-free.

The walk is a 26‑mile route tracing the current practical detour between Bristol and Burlington.
Start at the Lions Park Gazebo (Bristol, PA) at 9:00 AM; finish at Florence Township Recreational Complex (Florence, NJ) by approximately 7:00 PM.

A support vehicle will be available for walkers; the bike option will be self-supporting. About 90% of the walk in Pennsylvania and 75% in New Jersey will be off-road paths, and nearly all the on-road sections have sidewalks. There are restrooms in Falls Township Park and Crystal Lake Park. The route also passes by or near 5 rail stations, food stores, and numerous SEPTA and NJ TRANSIT bus stops. (TRANSIT App link).

You can register for the event and find more details at FreeWalkers.org.

Turnpike Gap Challenge — Marathon Walk & Bike Ride
Hosted by FreeWalkers.org
May 2, 2026 · 9:00 AM–7:00 PM EDT
Start: Lions Park Gazebo, 198 Samuel Cliff Drive, Bristol, PA 19007
End: Florence Township Recreational Complex, Florence, NJ
Get tickets: (registration)

Turnpike Bridge Update – Notice of Intent

With the next planning phase of the bridge project is underway, a notice of intent has been submitted to the US Department of Transportation. This notice alerts the public that the USDOT intends to create an environmental impact statement for the project. This is the best opportunity to submit comments to reiterate the need for including a bike and pedestrian pathway as the USDOT considers how the project will potentially affect residents of the surrounding area.
Review the Notice of Intent
Submit Comments by May 25,2026