During the construction of the Suspension Bridge visitors could pay to cross the Avon Gorge in a basket intended to carry building materials. This could be quite a hair-raising journey as the Bristol Mercury reports on the 14th August 1841:

"Two gentlemen who had arrived by the railway on a party of pleasure, were induced to pass over the river in the basket attached to the iron rod, which passes from side to side. This rod of course bends in the centre, and a rope is affixed to the basket to draw it up as it approaches the land. On the above occasion, the party had arrived within a few feet of the landing, when the rope suddenly broke and the basket was rapidly impelled back to the centre of the rod. Considerable alarm was felt by the spectators on the shore, by the passengers in a steam-packet passing beneath at the time, and more particularly by the affrighted tenants of the basket themselves, who however, were ultimately relieved without any personal injury."

The novelty quickly wore off and the charge was reduced from 5 shillings to 2s 6d and then to 1s before ceasing altogether in 1857.