Spang

A very plain example of a "small and simple bridge" (a plank bridge in England)

A more complex, but still "small and simple" example (a log bridge with simple abutments, additional deck boards and handrail in Sweden)

English: This gallery is for "rudimentary" small and simple bridges (special terms exist in some languages, but apparently there's no unambiguous English term). A partly related English term is log bridge (but it excludes small bridges not built of logs, and includes also larger/wider log bridges for vehicle use).

Català: Palanca o pont rudimentari

Dansk: Spang, enklest mulige bro

Deutsch: Steg, eine einfache kleine (schmale) Brücke, die meistens nur für Fußgänger gedacht ist (eventuell auch für Fahrradfahrer oder Tiere) und aus verschiedenen Materialien bestehen kann (Holz, Stein, Beton…)

Español: Pasarela o puente rudimentario

Norsk: Klopp

Svenska: Spång, en mycket enkel bro

Definition

English: In principle, the colloquial "small and simple bridge" terms of different languages are used similarly, although not consistently to the last detail. It very much depends on regional/cultural/historical/etc. backgrounds, how large, long or wide a bridge can be, to still be denoted as "small and simple". However, there are a few suitable criteria to narrow down the core which all these terms have in common (see also borderline cases):

1. Such a bridge is rather narrow and short. (common interpretation: If it is longer, it needs to be narrow. If it is wider, it needs to be short.)
2. Such a bridge is usually built for pedestrians only (footbridge), but it may also be used by cyclists, or animals, etc.
3. Such a bridge can be made of various materials (wood, bamboo, stone, concrete…, or even metal like discarded railway tracks).
4. Such a bridge has only one relevant structural element (e.g. one wooden plank, or a slab of concrete), or it consists of only a small number of main structural components (e.g. two parallel logs).
5. The load-bearing structural element/s rest/s in position only by its/their own weight (e.g. on the banks of a stream). Further fixation, if existing, is secondary. Such bridges can usually be classified as simply supported single-span beam bridges.
6. Constructed abutments at both ends of a bridge span often don't exist at all. If existing, they are not elaborately constructed, but only of simple design (rammed earth, in-situ rocks, parts of trees, rough concrete blocks, etc.).
7. Additional elements like handrails may be present, and a bridge may feature e.g. smaller boards added on top, to provide a more even surface. But such characteristics are always secondary.

Small and simple bridges by material

Wood as material

 See also categories: Wooden footbridges and Log bridges.

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Bamboo as material

 See also category: Bamboo bridges.

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Stone as material

 See also categories: Stone footbridges and Clapper bridges.

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Concrete as material

 See also category: Concrete footbridges.

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Metal as material

 See also category: Metal footbridges.

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Unidentified, or combined material

 See also category: Footbridges by material.

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  wood or concrete?
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  wood, stone or concrete?
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  stone or concrete?
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  wood or concrete?
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  steel and wood

Borderline cases

English: The following images should illustrate the language-dependent limits of the above definition. In some languages one or more of these bridges might still be called "small and simple", in others not.

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  bridge extended into a boardwalk, combined construction
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  steel and wood, solid construction might be called "too complex"
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  might be called "too wide" (note the vehicle tracks in the background)
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  multiple-span elements, might be called "too long"; besides: rather a boardwalk than a bridge (note the almost continous soil/vegetation contact)
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  ladder-shaped "bridge", not that easy to cross
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  rather a (collapsed? or) simple floating bridge with some "hidden" supporting elements, e.g. wooden blocks or stones
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  decorative zig-zag bridge in a Japanese garden, multiple elements
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  stone bridge in a Japanese garden, "too complex" due to elaborately constructed abutments
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  simple bridge as part of a sluice (technical parts dominate bridge function)
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  looks like a bridge, but is rather a small dam with two culverts (note the pipes)
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  drawing of a simple bridge (but with a supporting pier element in the middle)