Suicide Barrier May Go Up on Golden Gate

AP ^ | 2/24/5 | TERENCE CHEA

[SmithL]

San Francisco (AP) --

Golden Gate Bridge officials Thursday moved closer to building a barrier to prevent people from jumping off the famous suspension bridge, where about 1,300 people have killed themselves since the landmark opened in 1937.

Officials voted to develop a plan and explore funding for the suicide barrier after hearing emotional testimony from friends and family of people who jumped off the iconic bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County.

The decision by a committee of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District still must be approved by the district's board of directors when it meets March 11.

All the nearly 20 people who testified Thursday urged committee members to erect the barrier.

"I don't want one more family member to go through this pain," said Terry Oxford of San Jose, whose 26-year-old daughter, Jennifer, jumped to her death last week. "She chose this bridge because it was accessible."

An average of 20 people a year commit suicide by pitching themselves over the bridge's 4 1/2-foot-high rail. Four have already done so this year.

"This is the place where the most preventable suicides occur," said Eve Meyer, executive director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention. "These are the most impulsive, least planned and least strategized suicides."

Building a suicide barrier on the bridge has been suggested for decades, but the idea gained momentum earlier this year when bridge officials learned that a filmmaker had filmed 19 people jumping off the bridge. Eric Steel told the bridge district he had intended to "capture the grandeur" of the bridge but ended up making a movie about its history of suicides.

[SmithL]

Sure,
why not?

With all that extra money they have, . . .

[CounterCounterCulture]

I thought they were "pro-choice" and believe in population reduction {shrugs}

[GSlob]

How much would it cost to erect the barrier, then to collect from it (assuming it has some sort of catching net) would-be suicides and then (SF, after all) - treat them? I'd say that keeping the bridge in as is condition is WAY cheaper.

[FoxInSocks]

Earlier this week, district staff members said it would take about two years and $2 million to develop a plan for the barrier and another two years to build it. The cost of the barrier depends on the design.

Meanwhile, during all the legal wrangling and back-room deals, another 80 people will plunge to their deaths.

[flutters]

And my favorite post from a previous thread that had me ROTFLMAO:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336984/posts

‘STOP SUICIDES, CLOSE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE,’ GUN RIGHTS GROUP SUGGESTS

“I agree, if we can save just one life by closing the Golden Gate Bridge, by golly, let's just do it!
I propose also that we rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge so that it is much lower - practically touching the water, so that a jump off of it would not be fatal. To prevent drowning in these instances, I also propose that nobody be allowed to cross this new bridge without a life jacket.
I also think it prudent to station at least a dozen coast guard vessels under the bridge so that any "jumpers" can quickly be pulled out of the water and sent to counselling. We are talking about human lives here. No cost should be spared!”

[Bouchart]

Maybe they should just set up a toll booth there for people who want to jump to their death. Knowing the fiscal state of SF and all, and their generally crazy beliefs...

[skip_intro]

Earlier this week, district staff members said it would take about two years and $2 million to develop a plan for the barrier and another two years to build it.

That's as long as it took to build the bridge. You've just gotta love bureaucratic progress.

[Mark17]

Meanwhile, during all the legal wrangling and back-room deals, another 80 people will plunge to their deaths.

If they put up a barrier, I wonder if the people will just go jump off the Bay Bridge, or the Richmond/San Raphael Bridge?

[WoofDog123]

""This is the place where the most preventable suicides occur," said Eve Meyer, executive director of San Francisco Suicide Prevention. "These are the most impulsive, least planned and least strategized suicides.""

Notice they do not mention the success rate.

[SmithL]

There isn't enough money in the entire State to idiot-proof the Bay Area, even the little bit of it that's painted orange.

[Carry_Okie]

Earlier this week, district staff members said it would take about two years and $2 million to develop a plan for the barrier and another two years to build it. The cost of the barrier depends on the design.

Four years to plan and build a suicide barrier...

It only took four years to BUILD the bridge in the first place.

[nonliberal]

Van Halen's Jump keeps running through my head. Is that wrong?

[Walkingfeather]

LOL

[Horatio Gates]

Not being familiar with the Bay area, would it be safe to assume there are other bridges or "jumpable" spots to kill oneself nearby if that was the preferred method?

[SteveMcKing]

They should build a large barrier around San Francisco.

[Always Right]

I thought the Dems believed in assisted suicide. They should provide trampolines.

[SmithL]

Oh yeah, bridges, buidling, cliffs, trees. If you read the local newspapers, you'll discover that there's a huge population that thrives on jumping to faulty conclusions.

[Zetman]

Why don't they just install some water softeners beneath the Golden Gate Bridge?? That way, if the water were softer, no one would hurt themselves if the jumped off the bridge.

[calex59]

“I agree, if we can save just one life by closing the Golden Gate Bridge, by golly, let's just do it! I propose also that we rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge so that it is much lower - practically touching the water, so that a jump off of it would not be fatal. To prevent drowning in these instances, I also propose that nobody be allowed to cross this new bridge without a life jacket. I also think it prudent to station at least a dozen coast guard vessels under the bridge so that any "jumpers" can quickly be pulled out of the water and sent to counselling. We are talking about human lives here. No cost should be spared!”

I have a better idea,everyone who goes out on the bidge today should have to wear a parachute, one that auto opens when anyone jumps. As a matter of fact bay area residents in general should have to buy and wear and display parachutes whenever they are out an about in their cars! This would keep anyone from ever dying again in the bay area! Problem solved..

[goldstategop]

Liberals are perpetually depressed. Why would they want to stop suicide? After all they tell us how awful Bush's America is to them. To me it seems to be a fitting ground for a Final Exit.

(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")