The historic swinging bridges of the Truman Lake area--now just one is preserved as a bike/ped bridge | Clinton Daily Democrat

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

If you are of certain age, the shaking, rattling, swaying and rolling of swinging bridges tended to create alarm in the minds of many motorists and passengers who were not used to such bridges. Most certainly, there was a healthy respect combined with acute trepidation, and then some, I'd say, among a number of people in these parts who grew up using these bridges. A certain etiquette was expected when utilizing the swinging bridges. Since there was an arch in the middle of the span it was difficult to spot traffic on the other side. If one met a vehicle in the center of the one-lane bridges, one or another had to back up. This of, course, was an "adventure" for the driver and passengers alike of the vehicle backing up. Drivers and passengers deeply concentrated on the sides of the bridge, bed of the bridge, the river beneath and exit of the bridge during the backing up process. It was considered unwise to have other than one or two vehicles crossing at a time with good distance intervals a must. After a while, good manners dictated a car at the end of the procession heading in one direction across would stop and allow vehicles at the other end, often a goodly number, to begin their interval crossing adventure.

Link: 

The historic swinging bridges of the Truman Lake area--now just one is preserved as a bike/ped bridge | Clinton Daily Democrat

MoBikeFed comment: One of the old swinging bridges, the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge in Warsaw, has been preserved and is used today as a key trail connection on the Warsaw lakefront.

Find out more about the Warsaw Swinging Bridge here: http://www.welcometowarsaw.com/89/Joe-Dice-Swinging-Bridge