9 replies to this topic

[araki5]

You should check out this suicide map from the online SFGATE. It maps all the suicide attempts since it was built. Pretty macabre, but I thought appropriate for Halloween.
http://sfgate.com/cg...MNG2NFF7KI1.DTL

[Hans van der Maarel]

Hmmm...

Interesting map. But when I was walking across it (4 years ago now), I was more concerned with the traffic whizzing by, the traffic cones flying around and the mad cyclists...

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[Rob]

very timely.

rob

[frax]

seems like ppl have been jumping off the bridge where there isn't water underneath as well, doesn't sound that nice...

Why is one side more popular than the other? People want to face the bay the city? Why is lightpole 69 and 71 (more in the middle?) so popular but not 73 and 75?

Great information graphic design (not really a map, right?)

[Hans van der Maarel]

The 'ocean' side is not accessible to pedestrians, whereas the 'bay' side is. That causes the higher numbers on one side.

[araki5]

seems like ppl have been jumping off the bridge where there isn't water underneath as well, doesn't sound that nice...

Why is one side more popular than the other? People want to face the bay the city? Why is lightpole 69 and 71 (more in the middle?) so popular but not 73 and 75?

Great information graphic design (not really a map, right?)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was trying to decide if it constitutes a "map", but since there are locations(the poles) and information is being conveyed about the locations and relation to each of the light poles, I classified it as a map. But more importantly, it kinda gives the board of supervisors and CHP an idea(if they wished)to put up the controversial barrier.

[Rick Dey]

I ride (bus) or drive across the bridge twice daily and have known 2 individuals that jumped from here, and one from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. I'm not terribly fond of heights myself but have been out along the rail maybe 6 or 8 times while walking or watching the Blue Angels during Fleet Week. Hans' comment about the traffic was always more of a concern to me than the outer edge until they put up a rail between the road and sidewalk a few years ago.

Head on collisions from crossover accidents have been an issue for years also, I've seen those results from far too close several times. The Bridge Directors continue still to debate a collision barrier with no solution yet and until they get forced to do something about the suicide barrier by public outcry nothing will occur. They work with a limited budget and try to do everything they can with it, currently seismic retrofitting is taking a huge chunk of money. Meantime they have to subsidise the Ferry and Bus system without the ability to levy any form of tax. Its a tough balancing act but its rather hard to place a dollar value on a person's life.

Ultimately there are probably questions about what will keep people from just using another bridge. I'm not saying that that is a reson to delay it but there are many points of view on the subject.

On a lighter note here are couple shots from a couple weeks ago.
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[Hans van der Maarel]

As you can see in my first photo, the rail between road and walkway was less than knee-high, whereas the barrier between walkway and thin air was about chest-high. The flow of traffic was separated by yellow pilons that slotted into holes in the road surface. This way the number of lanes north/southbound could be changes quite easily. Unfortunately, the pilon were prone to being knocked out by passing cars... we found several of those on the walkway. Since they're made of some sort of heavy rubber or plastic, you don't want to be hit by one of those...

[Rick Dey]

Hans,
You'll be happy to know that, as shown in this photo, the rail between the traffic and pedestrians in much improved. Those friggin rubber pylons are another story though.

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[Hans van der Maarel]

Rick,

A definite improvement. I remember walking there and not feeling very safe.