Quote:
San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge moved a big step closer to getting an oft-debated suicide barrier after bridge officials on Friday approved a $76 million funding package for a net system that would prevent people from jumping to their deaths.
The bridge district's board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the funding for a steel suicide net, which includes $20 million in bridge toll revenue. Federal money will provide the bulk of the remaining funding, though the state is also pledging $7 million.
The motion for Friday's vote came from board member and former bridge district director John Moylan, whose grandson, Sean Moylan, jumped off the bridge to his death earlier this month.
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Reactions? I imagine suicide is an issue with any large structure, but wasn't aware it was such a prevalent issue with this particular bridge. Apparently people actually travel to San Francisco to do it.
I'm not opposed to the concept, but how effective do you speculate it may actually be? Will would-be suicides just take place somewhere else? I suspect it will revoke at least some immediate opportunities and could certainly do some good.
Suicides aside, do you think this will encourage idiots who are thrill-seeking to leap off and into the net?
(Mods, feel free to move this to Debates and Discussions if the thread takes off enough in that direction.) :P
