Power to the pedestrian – walking bridges around the world

Looking like a tendril from the stunning Beijing Olympics bird’s nest stadium, the soon-to-be-built Changsha Meixi lake crossing is another example of the cutting-edge architecture being employed around the world to build landmark pedestrian bridges - a celebration of walking that is always to be encouraged.

The architectural practice, NEXT architects have designed the 24 metre-tall and 150 metre-long bridge to offer access to the waterside as well as the hills above.

Striking pedestrian bridges nearer to home include the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which caters to both cyclists and pedestrians and is the world’s first tilting bridge.

Every Friday at midday, the Rolling Bridge in London furls to allow a boat to pass in or out of its moorage. Powered by hydraulic rams, the bridge’s eight triangular, hinged sections roll themselves into a wheel.