Golden Gate bridge to spend $50m on nets to save jumpers....

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

From a political standpoint, my guess is it isn't to save lives, but to prevent them from doing it on the GGB. The GGB is such a huge touriest attraction, being along side Alcatrez, Fishrman's Wharf (?), GGB Park and of coarse, the bridge. I've never been there for a jump, but I'd imagine if it were during the day time, shutting down areas to get S&R in hurts tourism and lessens the GGB experience.

I can see that. That makes sense. I just don't see a politician getting up and using that explanation to sell that to the people.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Thats really not much of a thrill... and I'd imagine you'd get arrested and fined for jumping.

opps, i accidentally fell off ..... 12 times

[HotHotHeat]

Yea, hard to argue that this is a good idea. Maybe the plan is to stop getting them to do it from such a popular tourist attraction? I guess that makes sense, but for $50 mil, who knows...

[Dan02]

I wouldn't even go as far as to say it is a bad plan, but the price tag seems ridiculous.

[Tyler]

Perhaps, due to the bridge being somewhat "iconic", the nets will be cleverly disguised and built in such a way as to not radically alter the look of the bridge?

Maybe this is why the cost is higher?

[Dan02]

it may have been the 1930's but the whole bridge only cost 35 million to build!

close to 600 million in todays dollars.

[Jayems]

Am I the only one who thinks it's a tad bit morbid and bordering on a immoral to camp out and video tape suicides? I mean, I know you want to make a documentary about it... but I question if they were on their cell phones to the police to try and help these people or just hoping they jump to get it on tape.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Tyler

This is a compelling documentary behind why the nets are essential

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N9dsxYgF7c

Wow. That's a hell of a powerful documentary.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Am I the only one who thinks it's a tad bit morbid and bordering on a immoral to camp out and video tape suicides? I mean, I know you want to make a documentary about it... but I question if they were on their cell phones to the police to try and help these people or just hoping they jump to get it on tape.

This press release get's into great detail. They did try to help as much as they could.
http://www.thebridge-themovie.com/do...ress_notes.pdf

A good read to as well, gives a good synopsis.

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

This press release get's into great detail.
http://www.thebridge-themovie.com/do...ress_notes.pdf

A good read to as well, gives a good synopsis.

Yeah. I also guess it'd be kind of hard to confirm someone was going to do it before they actually do.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I agree with this. Unless the Golden Gate is so special that people will only commit suicide on that particular bridge and not any of the other long spanning bridges in the bay area among many other ways to commit suicide, this is a waste of money. Reeks of typical myopic thinking ignoring common sense and the facts of life.

it's because they're attention seekers, being remembered for jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge is more important to them than actually dying. despite the height, i would think jumping into WATER is one of the least efficient ways to go about killing yourself

this will separate the depressed attention whores from the guys who REALLY want to kill themselves in flamboyant fashion. they'll go to the Millau Bridge

[ResAlien]

You want to die? Man up and take a .38 to the skull. Jumpers are punks, just attention seekers. Don't make the damn taxpayers support your idiocy.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

They want to die, something tells me that them wasting your tax dollars really isn't one of their biggest concerns. And with regards to hitting water at that height, it is pretty much the same as hitting concrete. Plus at the same time even if you survive, odds are they won't be conscious and will then drown in the water.

Some of you guys make me look like Mother Teresa by the way

[redforever]

That youtube clip is from 2004. I was just in SF this spring and walked across the GGB. The railing is no longer open like that, they have sort of high mesh fencing, about the same as stucco wire mesh, that goes all along, quite high in some parts. And they have phone numbers posted all over for those who need counselling regarding suicide or perhaps another mental problem.

As to some actual specs of the bridge and the cables used it its construction, this picture tells a lot. How this would relate if at all to the cost of a net under the bridge, I am not sure.

[dustygoon]

In London, people "throw" themselves in front of tube trains as they would come into the station. Anyone who has ridden the tube knows that is a tough way to go, and at that slow of a speed, you have a better chance of being gnarled than killed. It was so frequent.....people coming into work saying they were late for work because a "jumper on the jubilee line tried to off himself"...you couldn't tell if they were lying or not.

If you are going to whack yourself, just do it already with a little dignity and self respect. We feel we need to do all we can to help these people, but since the beginning of time, some people have the urge to do this. Why do we have to go to seemingly ridiculous lengths to stop it?

As for getting the dirty business away from a tourist attraction, I commute over the Golden Gate every single day. You wouldn't even know this stuff goes on unless you look for it. Windy as hell, traffic whipping by, sites to see, fog all over the place.

To me the strange part and interesting point of the whole story is the guy who survived ends up being a crusader for the net......trying to stop this unsafe means to end one's life or something.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Am I the only one who thinks it's a tad bit morbid and bordering on a immoral to camp out and video tape suicides? I mean, I know you want to make a documentary about it... but I question if they were on their cell phones to the police to try and help these people or just hoping they jump to get it on tape.

I watched the entire film and I must say it creeped me out a bit. There are 2 scenes in the film where you actually watch soeone jump off the bridge. My mind went immediately to the encredible sadness and pain they must have felt. If had known it was coming I would have closed closed my eyes as it's not something I want to watch. It's the fact it was real human being that disturbed me greatly.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

If you are going to whack yourself, just do it already with a little dignity and self respect. We feel we need to do all we can to help these people, but since the beginning of time, some people have the urge to do this. Why do we have to go to seemingly ridiculous lengths to stop it?

How do you expect someone to do it with dignity and self respect when they are not thinking rationaly?

Rational minded people don't kill themselves.

[MonsieurFish]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

it's because they're attention seekers, being remembered for jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge is more important to them than actually dying. despite the height, i would think jumping into WATER is one of the least efficient ways to go about killing yourself

this will separate the depressed attention whores from the guys who REALLY want to kill themselves in flamboyant fashion. they'll go to the Millau Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge

The fatality rate of jumping is roughly 98%. As of 2006, only 26 people are known to have survived the jump.

Something tells me these people are not simply looking for attention...

[Bunk]

I'm guessing it costs $50 million because its engineering and construction is probably not like erecting a badminton net.

[zuluking]

$1M for the net, $49M to make it look like Spiderman made it.