July 28, 2013

Golden Gate Bridge -- an artful beauty


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Quite unfairly perhaps, San Francisco gets all of the credit for the Golden Gate Bridge. But without our beloved Marin County there would be no need for the bridge--lets give credit where credit is due. Marin County ROCKS!



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

After all, who in their right mind would WANT to live in San Francisco? My apologies to friends who live in San Francisco, but lord, what a hell-hole.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, time to give the "powers that be" at the GGB some "crap" here. Since opening in 1937 over 1600 confirmed suicides have taken place on the span. And every one of them could have been prevented had the bridge been designed or retrofitted in a manner that would prevent jumpers from being so successful.

Today, there are 25 to 30 confirmed suicides suicides per year from the bridge. Another six to 12 suicides aren't confirmed, according to estimates, and about 80 people per year are taken off the bridge prior to jumping. That's 120 people per year, on average, who go to the bridge with the intention of killing themselves. (source: The Final Leap)

So why haven't adequate barriers been built? Simply because something like a difficult to climb fence or barrier would detract from the esthetic qualities of the bridge. Money also seems to be an issue.   [insert sarcasm here]


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3 comments:

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Marin County Rocks but Sonoma County is just one step above Marin. (double entendre there)

Anonymous said...

My gf is from the area living on both sides of the bridge, she loves both! I had my second chance to visit there this past October and visited the bridge from the vantage of Fort Point, what a great experience!

AphotoAday said...

Hi SINBAD'S DAD (JOHN) -- yeah, lets not forget about Sonoma County, made famous by Luther Burbank and of course all that great wine that poor me is no longer able to drink.

And Hi GREGORY -- perhaps I was being a bit overly critical of our beloved "San Clam-disco" this morning. I truly DO love S.F. --Probably inadvertently insulted a few of my good friends who live there. S.F. is full of really cool things to do and see.

 
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