mostly, people jump /inward/

[waider]

Golden Gate Bridge suicides chart via the inimitable Mr. Ellis. I'm intrigued by the fact that the most popular jump spot is at lamppost 69, which appears to be dead (!) centre of the piers but not actually centre of the bridge; and also by the people who jumped onto land at either end. Of course, I figure if you're hitting water after a 220ft drop, it's not going to be a whole lot different to jumping onto something more solid.

Comments

[merde.livejournal.com]

a look at aerial imagery (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=the+golden+gate+bridge&ll=37.820226,-122.476444&sll=37.775000,-122.418333&spn=0.029822,0.054957&sspn=0.120488,0.231400&t=k&hl=en) and a side view (http://www.truscott.id.au/our_life/albums/US%20Holiday%2004_05/IMG_3515.JPG) make it pretty obvious why: that's both where the suspension cable is at its lowest (which is what looks like the center of the bridge when you're on it) and it's above the deepest water.

it's also easier to get over the railing there because it's an access point for employees to get up onto the cable.

[waider.livejournal.com]

I'd kinda figured on the lowest point of suspension cable, alright, after thinking about it for a bit.

[merde.livejournal.com]

oh yeah -- and they jump inward because there's no pedestrian walkway on the other side.

[dr-strych9.livejournal.com]

The other side is the bicycle path.

Obviously most jumpers aren't in a rush to get out to the middle of the catenary. If they were, they'd probably drive, stop in the middle of traffic, jump out— try very hard not to be struck by automobiles— and leap off the bridge, leaving their vehicle to be towed away by Cal Trans.

I doubt the depth of the water is really the main thing on their minds at that point. They're probably choosing the pedestrian side, rather than the bicycle side, because they like the view of the cityscape in their final moments before plunging to their death.

Occasionally, some asshole survives the impact on the water, only to die later of hypothermia. Global warming may cause a minor uptick in the number of Golden Gate suicide survivors.

[tongodeon.livejournal.com]

if you're hitting water after a 220ft drop, it's not going to be a whole lot different to jumping onto something more solid.

Ya know I've *heard* this, and I've seen the autopsy reports showing broken legs, but I find it hard to believe. If I fell out of a plane I'd still aim for a swimming pool.

[merde.livejournal.com]

this guy (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/01/MNGFTFG3PA1.DTL) broke his back and shattered vertebrae.

[ikkyu2.livejournal.com]

I think what fascinates me the most are the accounts of survivors - folks who did everything right, jumped from 220 feet over water, and for whatever reason, managed to survive. They mostly say, "As soon as I let go I knew I'd made a big mistake."

Yuck.

[loosestrife.livejournal.com]

Today's chapter is about the barrier on the Viaduct in Toronto. I hadn't heard about it at all before reading this series. Apparently it went up in 2003 but a little too late in the year, I guess. (Of course, Tom might just have headed for Leaside instead.)