Suicide barrier for Golden Gate Bridge? Public debate promises to be emotional [View All]

Very interesting. Should suicide barriers be installed, or should people be allowed to end their life if they want?



Some say Golden Gate suicide barriers would mar an icon,
and people would find another way to end their lives.
But families of suicides say they would save lives.





By Marjie Lundstrom - mlundstrom@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, July 21, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A1

SAN FRANCISCO – Olivia Crowther left her London flat last month to become a statistic in San Francisco. The 23-year-old college graduate surfed suicide Web sites, bought a plane ticket for California and, at 9:24 a.m. on June 25, leapt to her death off the Golden Gate Bridge, at light pole No. 105.

Her body was retrieved from the water nine minutes later – one of the latest among at least 1,300 suicides at the majestic span since it opened in 1937.

The debate over what to do about the deaths goes back nearly as far, though the pace is quickening this week with public meetings over proposals to prevent such tragedies.

Will Bay Area residents favor costly suicide barriers on one of the world's most famous bridges? Will they want to raise the existing 4-foot rail? Hang nets? Or do nothing?

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1096531.html

Four designs for suicide barriers would extend or replace the 4-foot-high handrail, using either vertical or horizontal steel rods or cables. Another option would be to construct horizontal nets below the sidewalk. Each plan would cost from $40 million to $50 million. For viewing and comment: www.goldengate.org


The Golden Gate Bridge has the dubious distinction of being the world's No. 1 suicide magnet. But most people who jump come from the six counties closest to the bridge, statistics show. Supporters of suicide barriers often cite a 1978 study that found that 94 percent of people sidelined from suicide were still alive 26 years later or had died of natural causes.


Nets 20 feet below sidewalk


Vertical barrier with transparent panel


Horizontal barrier Illustrations from the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District /