Letter: Wobble no more

From Bill Unumb

I suppose there are some conventional engineering solutions to the problem of
the swaying Millennium Bridge
(8 July, p 14),
but here are two simpler ways:

Each pedestrian stepping on to the bridge will be given a small earphone that
will count cadence for the walker. Each earphone will deliver a slightly
different cadence timed to avoid accidental synchronicity.

This will create a new post of Royal Bridge Cadence Keeper, thus adding to
the rich English heritage.

Alternatively, pedestrians could be forbidden to lift their feet, thus
reducing the vertical loading. As a further reduction of live loading, they can
all be instructed to move at half speed. The effect of so many slowly shuffling
folks might be a little zombie-like, but the low cost of this solution is very
attractive.

I’m releasing both of these ideas at no charge in the interest of advancing
science.

bill_unumb@rla.net