Editing Simple suspension bridge (section)

{{Short description|Type of bridge}}
{{distinguish|Suspension bridge|Swing bridge}}
{{for|the bridge in Manchester|Hanging Bridge}}
 <!-- redirect here |Hanging bridge}} -->

{{BridgeTypePix
| image            = Hängebrücke am Berliner Höhenweg Nr 526, Zillertaler Alpen 2.JPG 
| image_title      = A simple suspension footbridge in the [[Zillertal Alps]]
| type_name        = Simple suspension bridge
| image_size       = 300px
| descendent_names = * [[Underspanned suspension bridge]]
* [[Suspended-deck suspension bridge]]
* [[Stressed ribbon bridge]]
| carries          = [[Pedestrian]]s, [[livestock]]
| span_range       = short to medium
| material         = [[Rope]] (fiber), [[chain]], [[steel]] [[wire rope]]; appropriate decking material
| movable          = No
| design           = low
| falsework        = No
}}

A '''simple suspension bridge''' (also '''rope bridge''', '''swing bridge''' (in [[New Zealand]]), '''suspended bridge''', '''hanging bridge''' and '''catenary bridge''') is a primitive type of [[bridge]] in which the deck of the bridge lies on two parallel load-bearing cables that are anchored at either end. They have no towers or piers. The cables follow a shallow downward [[catenary]] arc which moves in response to dynamic loads on the bridge deck.

The arc of the deck and its large movement under load make such bridges unsuitable for vehicular traffic. Simple suspension bridges are restricted in their use to foot traffic. For safety, they are built with stout handrail cables, supported on short piers at each end, and running parallel to the load-bearing cables. Sometime these may be the primary load-bearing element, with the deck suspended below. Simple suspension bridges are considered the most efficient and [[sustainable design]] in rural regions, especially for river crossings that lie in non-[[floodplain]] topography such as gorges.