Rapid deploy mobile pedestrian bridge

An apparatus comprising:

• an expandable lift device;
• and
• an expandable bridge span;
• wherein the expandable lift device is connected to the expandable bridge span;
• wherein the expandable lift device is configured to raise the expandable bridge span, while the expandable bridge span is in a compressed state and is substantially aligned with the expandable lift device;
• wherein the expandable bridge span is configured to rotate about ninety degrees with respect to the expandable lift device, while the expandable bridge span is in the compressed state;
• wherein the expandable bridge span is configured to expand perpendicularly to the expandable lift device;
• and
• further comprising
• a first staircase;
• and
• wherein the first staircase is configured to be attached to the expandable bridge span, at a first end of the expandable bridge span, when the expandable bridge span is in a first expanded state to allow a human being to walk up the first staircase and then onto a walkway device supported by the expandable bridge span;
• and
• further comprising
• a first truck with a cargo enclosure;
• and
• wherein when both the expandable bridge span and the expandable lift device are in a compressed state and connected together, all of the expandable bridge span, the expandable lift device, and the first staircase in a compressed state, fit within the cargo enclosure of the first truck.

A method comprising

• placing an expandable lift device in a compressed state and an expandable bridge span in a compressed state in a cargo enclosure of a first truck;
• raising the expandable bridge span while the expandable bridge span is in a compressed state and is substantially aligned with the expandable lift device;
• rotating the expandable bridge span about ninety degrees with respect to the expandable lift device, while the expandable bridge span is in the compressed state;
• and
• expanding the expandable bridge span perpendicularly to the expandable lift device.