The Final Leap

The Final Leap by John Bateson Read Free Book Online

Book: The Final Leap by John Bateson Read Free Book Online
Authors: John Bateson
barely eighteen months after the Golden Gate Bridge opened, ten more people were known to have jumped. Representatives from the California Highway Patrol, among others, began to express concerns. A year later, Bridge District officials discussed for the first time installing an “anti-suicide screen” on the bridge. After some debate, it was voted down for aesthetic and financial reasons, as well as for engineering concerns, that it might lessen wind resistance on the bridge.
    Over the next twenty-five years, there were repeated failures to address the growing problem of suicide from San Francisco’s famous landmark:
    â€¢Â Â In 1948, the Bridge District commissioned the first full study of a suicide deterrent. It took four years to complete, was referred to a district subcommittee, and ultimately was ignored.
    â€¢Â Â In 1949, the president of the Bridge District proposed to make it illegal to jump off the bridge. This arose after a Hollywood stuntman jumped from the bridge intending to live. Following his death, there was concern that others would try to survive a jump. The proposal went nowhere after an editorial in the
San Francisco Chronicle
noted that “a person seriously bent on suicide is not going to be deterred by a law that, once he jumps, can never reach him.” The state legislature thought there was merit to the idea nevertheless, and the same year passed a law making it a misdemeanor to climb on the rails, cables, or towers of the bridge without permission. That law remains in effect today. Thus, while it’s illegal to get into position to jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, and can result in a $10,000 fine for trespassing and a year in jail if convicted, there’s no law against actually jumping.
    â€¢Â Â In 1951, with suicides from the bridge continuing unabated, the general manager of the Bridge District suggested that there be a twenty-four-hour bridge patrol, consisting of five men on motorcycles. He reasoned that the patrol would cost $20,500 annually, which was cheaper than a suicide barrier. One board member commented, “If it saved one life a year, it would be well worth it.” Nevertheless, the board took no action. Neither did the board take action on another suggestion, to post signs on the bridge saying “Think Before You Leap.”
    â€¢Â Â In 1953, three engineers who specialized in bridge design were hired by the district to study the issue. They reported that a suicide barrier could be erected for $200,000. The barrier would reduce the number of suicides, they said, but probably wouldn’t eliminate them entirely. District officials replied that this wasn’t good enough, that they would only consider a barrier that was 100 percent effective.
    â€¢Â Â In 1954, two plans were proposed by a Bridge District security committee. One plan would extend the current railing two feet; the other would extend it three feet. Neither plan was acted on, although the district approved $325,000 to widen the southern approach, as well as $3.5 million to add new trusses below the roadway in order to buffet the bridge in high winds.
    â€¢Â Â In 1960, Bridge District officials voted to close the pedestrian and bicycle paths on the bridge from dusk to dawn every day “in the interest of public safety and security.” Their concern did not extend to approving a physical deterrent—it only involved buying four padlocks. The decision was designed to show sympathy for the victims without inconveniencing tourists, who were unlikely to walk on the bridge at night.
    â€¢Â Â In 1964, the Bridge District created a three-person subcommittee to consider applications from engineering firms to design a suicide barrier. Six years later, no firm had been hired.
    By 1968, it became impossible to ignore the four hundred confirmed suicides from the bridge. District officials voted unanimously to take action: they doubled the tolls on the

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