In many cases, pedestrian bridges are built to separate fast-moving vehicles from pedestrians. Since multiple-lane highways or railroad switching yards are typically not safe for people to cross at ground level, pedestrian bridges help get people to their destinations safely. Similarly, pedestrian bridges also can help people move across bodies of water without the need of a boat.
Pedestrian bridges are used to connect parts of a town that may be split by a river. They are common in parks where motor traffic is banned. And they are popular in cities like Venice, Italy, where cars and trucks are banned, yet people must be able to move across canals and rivers. In some cities, pedestrian bridges are built to move people over heavily trafficked streets. In Las Vegas they are used to get people over the crowded Strip, while in Minneapolis, enclosed pedestrian bridges allow people to move around the city without being exposed to cold winter weather.
Some pedestrian bridges previously were used for train traffic or cars or trucks. After being decommissioned for motor vehicles, they were renovated for use as pedestrian bridges. Among the more well-known of these types of re-purposed bridges is the Walkway Over the Hudson, which spans the Hudson River north of New York City.
Some bridges, like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, are considered pedestrian-friendly because people can walk across them in areas away from motor traffic. But these types of bridges aren't thought of as traditional pedestrian bridges. Other famous bridges in this category include the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
