A
footbridge (also called a
pedestrian bridge,
pedestrian overpass, or
pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic, and horse riders, instead of vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the
landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction. In many
developed countries, footbridges are both functional and can be beautiful works of art and sculpture. For poor rural communities in the developing world, a footbridge may be a community's only access to medical clinics, schools and markets, which would otherwise be unreachable when rivers are too high to cross.
Simple suspension bridge designs have been developed to be
sustainable and easily constructible in such rural areas using only local materials and labor.