The decades-long battle for a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge has been one of the most photogenic structures in the world since its construction. The span, which connects San Francisco and Marin County, draws tourists from around the world who rave about its unusual orange-red color and the mist that always seems to pass through the cables.
The bridge has also been a place of repeated tragedies. About 2,000 people are known to have jumped to their deaths from the bridge since it was completed in 1937, and since not all jumps are observed and not all bodies are found, the actual number is likely higher.
My colleague John Branch recently wrote in The New York Times about the effort to install three and a half miles of stainless steel mesh under the bridge as a “suicide deterrent system.” The system, which is close to being installed, cost $217 million and took longer to build than the bridge itself, John reports.
You can read his full article here.
I spoke with John about his reporting and the decades-long struggle of families of people who jumped to have a barrier installed. Here’s our conversation, lightly edited.
The Golden Gate suicides take place on one of the most iconic structures in the world, in one of the most famous cities in the world, but they remain virtually under the radar. Why do you think that is so?
Many reasons. One is that suicides on the bridge happen one by one, and people rarely stop to count the toll, in terms of numbers and heartache. For decades, the suicides warranted brief mentions in local newspapers, and a countdown of sorts took place as the death toll approached 500 (in 1973) and 1,000 (in 1995).
In particular, the gross attention surrounding that final countdown led officials to wonder whether the reporting was leading to more copycat suicide cases. Jumps have received less attention since then. But from 2011 to 2020, the number of show jumping horses increased to an average of more than 30 per year.
Families have been pushing for years for officials to do something. Why did it take so long for action to be taken?
Generally, it’s a combination of two factors: the love for the design of the bridge, even something as seemingly benign as the height of the railings; and a collective misconception, if not outright dismissive, of suicide.
Periodic pleas to do more – especially higher railing – were routinely ignored, largely because of the aesthetics, cost and questionable effectiveness of any proposed solution. The latter is related to our misunderstanding of suicide, which has long been regarded by many as someone else’s problem and as an individual right.
That attitude changed among decision makers in the early 2000s when family members came together to strongly advocate for something more to be done. They brought humanity to the cause and could not be ignored.
What was the most surprising thing you learned?
What’s most surprising is how many people I’ve found affected by a suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge; if you don’t know someone directly, you know someone who does know someone. I told a good friend that I was working on this story, and he told me something he hadn’t done before: He was crossing the bridge when the car in front of him suddenly stopped, and a man got out and jumped over the railing.
I was surprised by the unknown toll on such people. We think of family members and friends who remain behind. But since these suicides have occurred in a public place, usually in daylight, there are countless people who have witnessed the jump: driving over the bridge, walking on the sidewalk, boating into the water below.
Most bridge workers, such as painters and ironworkers, have witnessed it. I think of the officers and passersby trying to stop people, and the Coast Guard members pulling bodies from the water. One four-second jump can haunt many lives.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.
And before you go: good news
Wine lovers, get your corkscrews ready.
Vineyards across California Wine Country are nearing the end of their harvest season and thanks to an optimal growing season, winemakers think this year’s vintage could be one of the best in decades.
Wine grapes thrive in temperate conditions with plenty of rain. Cool and damp winters are known to be best for the fruit, allowing the vines to flower at a natural pace and the grapes to grow slowly and develop a deep and complex flavor profile.
Such growing conditions have been virtually non-existent in recent years, with adverse weather conditions due to climate change – a severe heat wave last year, drought and smoke in previous years – affecting crops and sometimes forcing growers to harvest early.
This year, the heavy rain at the start of the season and the temperate weather throughout have ensured that the conditions were just right. And the proof is in the pudding, winemakers say, noting the high yield and rich purple grapes.
“It’s probably the best start we’ve ever had, as far as I can remember, in 50 years,” says Andy Beckstofer, one of the region’s largest growers, told The San Francisco Chronicle.
Go casting!