Christoph-Rübsamen-Steg, Gießen, Pedestrian bridge in Gießen, Germany

Christoph-Rübsamen-Steg is a 152-metre bicycle and pedestrian suspension bridge over the Lahn, with back-anchored cables and a 49-metre main span. Its two circular A-pylons, 24 metres tall and ten tonnes each, lean slightly toward mid-river and are made of steel tubes 355.6 mm in diameter. The deck, four metres wide, is composite concrete; the 54-metre east and 49-metre west ramps are carried on piers.

The concept for crossing at this location began in 1914 when Robert Sommer proposed overcoming the railway embankment to connect the city to the river. The structure finally opened in 2014 during the State Garden Show, realizing a long-standing goal to bridge the divide.

The bridge is named after Christoph Rübsamen, a Gießen teacher and local historian who died in 2014; the city honoured him with this name for the Lahn crossing opened that same spring. Its ramps run through allotment gardens on both banks, and the bridge links the Flussstraßenviertel with the former workers' estate Gummiinsel.

Walkers and cyclists use the bridge to reach both neighborhoods, with ramp access leading to residential areas and main streets. The route remains open year-round and is accessible to visitors of all mobility levels.

The bridge was built as part of the 2014 State Garden Show project, designed to bring the city closer to its river. Beyond practical connection, it marks a shift in how residents relate to the waterway and public space.