Abstract | An extensive literature review of human induced vibrations that flexible footbridges experience is addressed in this study. Qualitative information is comprehensively included herein to provide common methods and code recommendations for the practicing engineers. The parameters affecting the dynamic response of footbridges excited by pedestrians are highlighted. In particular, the synchronous lateral excitation is addressed. This investigation can be valuable for the design criteria selection. In addition, this work contributes to the review of numerous case studies correlating important dynamic characteristics for various footbridge structural types, the variability of which confirms the complexity of the issue. Furthermore, vibration upgrading methods are described, focusing on applications of tuned mass dampers and remarkable conclusions are drawn.