Why is it illegal to jump off bridges in Austin?
Hundreds of people jump off bridges, so it must be harmless, right? Wrong! It is prohibited in Austin primarily because you can hurt or kill yourself or someone else. Jumpers can land on rocks, rebar, swimmers, boaters or animal life.
It can also impact the environment and negatively affect the aquatic ecosystem. People who jump off the Barton Springs pedestrian bridge could even harm the Barton Springs Salamander and the Austin Blind Salamander which are federally endangered species.
It is a violation of City of Austin Municipal Code § 8-5-44, which states, “a person may not dive or jump from a bridge that crosses the Colorado River or Barton Creek.” Austin Parks and Recreation staff are looking at innovative ways to deter this dangerous behavior.
Learn how to Leave No Trace in Austin's natural spaces at AustinTexas.gov/LeaveNoTrace.
