Do People Lift Their Feet When Crossing Bridges? No Universal Habit Exists

No. There is no widespread belief, superstition, or behavioral norm that people lift their feet while crossing bridges.

Possible Origins of the Idea

• Childhood game: "Don't step on cracks" extended to bridge joints.
• Superstition: Folklore about spirits under bridges (trolls, water spirits) — but usually involves silence, offerings, or speed, not foot-lifting.
• Physical sensation: Vibration on open-grid decks may cause involuntary step adjustment.
• Confusion with: "Hold your breath in tunnels" or "make a wish on a bridge."

Reality

People walk normally. Bridge design accounts for pedestrian gait loads (AASHTO LRFD: 85 lb/ft² + concentrated loads). No code requires or assumes foot-lifting.

If you do it, it's personal quirk—not culture.