Very sad and tragic.
A lover's quarrel between two men in a vehicle on the G.W. Bridge leads to suicide as the driver gets out of the car and leaps into the Hudson River.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/58087.htm
Full Version: George Washington Bridge suicide
There's a renewed effort for barriers on the Golden Gate Bridge because of the many suicides attempted or carried out from this landmark. The Chronicle's been writing about the deaths and calling for the money to be spent to at least study barriers on the bridge.
After reading about the tragedy on the GWB, and feeling pains for the guy who lept to his demise, I did wonder how many suicides have happened over this Hudson River crossing.
Anyone know what the stats are for suicides on bridges besides the Golden Gate?
After reading about the tragedy on the GWB, and feeling pains for the guy who lept to his demise, I did wonder how many suicides have happened over this Hudson River crossing.
Anyone know what the stats are for suicides on bridges besides the Golden Gate?
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amazin12:
Very sad and tragic.
A lover's quarrel between two men in a vehicle on the G.W. Bridge leads to suicide as the driver gets out of the car and leaps into the Hudson River.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/58087.htm
I hate to hear about such tragedies!! NO ONE is worth killing yourself for.
Very sad and tragic.
A lover's quarrel between two men in a vehicle on the G.W. Bridge leads to suicide as the driver gets out of the car and leaps into the Hudson River.
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/58087.htm
They actually built a "suicide barrier" on the Bloor Street viaduct, a bridge which spans the Bloor valley (Don River) in Toronto. According to wikipedia, this bridge was a "suicide magnet," second only to the Golden Gate bridge in suicide attempts.
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The bridge was completed in 1918 and named for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII; it is 490 meters long and 40 meters high.
* * *
The Viaduct has been the site of over 400 suicides, second only to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A 1997 report from the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario cited the average of one person jumping from the bridge every 22 days. After years of controversy, the bridge's reputation as a \"suicide magnet\" eventually led to the construction of a suicide barrier called the Luminous Veil. Designed by architect Derek Revington and completed in 2003 at the cost of $6.5 million, it consists of over 9,000 steel rods stretched to cantilevered girders. The Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, Quebec is now regarded as the leading site for suicides in Canada.
* * *
The Viaduct has been the site of over 400 suicides, second only to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A 1997 report from the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario cited the average of one person jumping from the bridge every 22 days. After years of controversy, the bridge's reputation as a \"suicide magnet\" eventually led to the construction of a suicide barrier called the Luminous Veil. Designed by architect Derek Revington and completed in 2003 at the cost of $6.5 million, it consists of over 9,000 steel rods stretched to cantilevered girders. The Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, Quebec is now regarded as the leading site for suicides in Canada.
And, of course, they just had to put the word GAY in the headline. 
BTW, I wouldn't want to go to New Jersey, either.
[ November 23, 2005, 06:28 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]
BTW, I wouldn't want to go to New Jersey, either.
[ November 23, 2005, 06:28 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]
I am such a scaredy-cat when it comes to bridges. I cringe when I am riding in a car and I can see a bridge towering high in the distance and I know we're headed for it. I absolutely cringe. So for me, no man who with some sort of psychological hold on me could ever lead me to a bridge leap. I'd be scared to death to go that way.
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bobby78751:
And, of course, they just had to put the word GAY in the headline.
BTW, I wouldn't want to go to New Jersey, either.
Yeah I know. According to the longer article on this story, it was the policeman who told the man (who attempted the rescue) that it was a gay lover's quarrel. So I suppose it was the rescuer guy who blabbed to the press about the men being gay.
And, of course, they just had to put the word GAY in the headline.
BTW, I wouldn't want to go to New Jersey, either.
Well I've heard of gay guys being referred to as drama queens, but this is going too far!
[quote]canmark:
The Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, Quebec is now regarded as the leading site for suicides in Canada.
[/quote][/QUOTE]
Is this that long ugly old bridge that leads right into the city? If it is, I am absolutely terrified of this bridge. Recently I took a bus to Montreal and I became queasy as the bus went over this bridge because for a large portion of this bridge there are no railings or barriers whatsover! God forbid the bus accidentally veered to the right! And oh man, that river is vast and seems real deep. eek!
The Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal, Quebec is now regarded as the leading site for suicides in Canada.
[/quote][/QUOTE]
Is this that long ugly old bridge that leads right into the city? If it is, I am absolutely terrified of this bridge. Recently I took a bus to Montreal and I became queasy as the bus went over this bridge because for a large portion of this bridge there are no railings or barriers whatsover! God forbid the bus accidentally veered to the right! And oh man, that river is vast and seems real deep. eek!
thanks for bringing up the point about the Golden Gate
I can't believe that some people would oppose a suicide barrier because it isn't pretty enough
that is the biggest bunch of bullshit I've ever heard of in my life
I can't believe that some people would oppose a suicide barrier because it isn't pretty enough
that is the biggest bunch of bullshit I've ever heard of in my life
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amazin12:
Recently I took a bus to Montreal and I became queasy as the bus went over this bridge because for a large portion of this bridge there are no railings or barriers whatsover!
Huh? You mean there is a bridge with just a flat road and no railings? Find that a bit hard to believe.
Recently I took a bus to Montreal and I became queasy as the bus went over this bridge because for a large portion of this bridge there are no railings or barriers whatsover!
Checking the internet, it's actually the Champlain Bridge I was speaking of.
What I don't like about this bridge is the long stretch of road leading up to the overhead steel structure portion of the bridge. There's just a small wall not too high off the ground. And the bus will ride in the far lane so you are riding right alongside the little wall. YIKES!
Click on this link and then click on the Champlain Bridge and then "Photos".
Check photo #4 for a good shot of the bridge.
http://www.jccbi.ca/English/Bridges_Struct...res/default.htm
What I don't like about this bridge is the long stretch of road leading up to the overhead steel structure portion of the bridge. There's just a small wall not too high off the ground. And the bus will ride in the far lane so you are riding right alongside the little wall. YIKES!
Click on this link and then click on the Champlain Bridge and then "Photos".
Check photo #4 for a good shot of the bridge.
http://www.jccbi.ca/English/Bridges_Struct...res/default.htm
I always hated the High Level Bridge in Edmonton. Aside from the fact that it's a notorious suicide leap, while the railing is low enough for pedestrians, a lot of cyclists use it as well. I've always wondered whether anyone's had a cycling accident and gone over the railing.
Another spooky bridge for long stretches with low railings is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. I believe they don't allow trucks on it during high winds.
Another spooky bridge for long stretches with low railings is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. I believe they don't allow trucks on it during high winds.
I've taken that Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on the way to Va. Beach and as you can expect I was a nervous wreck. Two little lanes with vast water to the left and right!! OMG!! eek!
And you're basically riding on the water.
There's no elevation.
I remember not looking up. I kept my head down as much as possible during the ride through it.
What if the car breaks down?
What if there's a freak rain storm?
What if you have a fight with somebody in the car. There's no way out!
It's like swimming across the ocean.
OMG!! eek! I can't swim!!
[ November 24, 2005, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: amazin12 ]
And you're basically riding on the water.
There's no elevation.
I remember not looking up. I kept my head down as much as possible during the ride through it.
What if the car breaks down?
What if there's a freak rain storm?
What if you have a fight with somebody in the car. There's no way out!
It's like swimming across the ocean.
OMG!! eek! I can't swim!!
[ November 24, 2005, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: amazin12 ]
QUOTE
amazin12
I've taken that Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on the way to Va. Beach and as you can expect I was a nervous wreck. Two little lanes with vast water to the left and right!! OMG!! eek!
When I lived in Va Beach I used to take that bridge-tunnel all the time and your points are all accurate, amazin....it's 22 miles long (the longest bridge in the world, btw) and with only one lane in each direction there's no place to go if you break down -- other than a few "emergency pull-off sections" near the entrances to the two tunnels.I've taken that Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on the way to Va. Beach and as you can expect I was a nervous wreck. Two little lanes with vast water to the left and right!! OMG!! eek!
Even though it saves a LOT of time whenever you're driving between Va Beach and anyplace north of PA it can be a bit harrowing, especially in high winds -- not to mention the $15 toll that they charge each way just to cross the bridge.
~Joe
Barriers or no barriers, fellas, let's face it--if someone's intent on killing themselves, they're probably going to succeed.
In response to the post about how many suicides have occurred on the Golden Gate Bridge, I believe the number is about 1300.
The Bridge was completed in 1937, so that is less than 20/year. From a statistical perspective, the number is infintessimal at best.
The Chronicle series on the suicide barrier was totally biased in favor building it. I think people will kill themselves in another or find another place, so there is no reason to desecrate the Bridge.
The Bridge was completed in 1937, so that is less than 20/year. From a statistical perspective, the number is infintessimal at best.
The Chronicle series on the suicide barrier was totally biased in favor building it. I think people will kill themselves in another or find another place, so there is no reason to desecrate the Bridge.
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