Jump for Life

A POSITIVE Approach to Saving Lives

Raise money for suicide prevention programs through bungee jumps from the Golden Gate Bridge

A suicide barrier would be an unsightly and costly way to shift a small number of suicides elsewhere. If a program were developed to offer bungee jumps from the bridge to the public, it would :

• Raise as much as $1million per year towards suicide prevention and mental health programs.
• Reduce the allure of the bridge as a suicide destination.
• Be a life-affirming opportunity for locals and visitors alike.

This is a creative proposal that deserves serious consideration. Please help us gain respect by signing the petition below, and spreading the word about 'Jump for Life.' It will save more lives than a barrier, and at no cost to taxpayers.

We hope to present this proposal to the Board of Directors for the Golden Gate Bridge District in early 2006. Our goal is to raise at least 100,000 signatures. Sign Now

Petition in support of 'Jump for Life'

To : Board of Directors, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

Please consider 'Jump for Life' as an easy to implement and affordable way to raise money towards suicide prevention. We want to save lives, but do not agree that a costly and unsightly suicide barrier is the solution.

Erecting a suicide barrier will not stop people taking their own lives. It will simply shift the problem elsewhere. 'Jump for Life' is a better alternative that would raise over $1million per year to be donated towards suicide prevention charities at no cost to the Bridge District.

Each year over 30,000 lives are lost through suicide in the US . Most will take their lives through gunshot, or poisoning. 200 will walk in front of trains. On average, only 20 will jump from the Golden Gate Bridge.

While the proportion of annual suicides from the bridge is very small, the money being proposed to be spent on a barrier is far from it. The feasibility study alone would cost $2 million. This is almost the size of the entire annual 2004 fundraising for the 'American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicides' . The expected final cost of the barrier could be $25 million. Amortized over 20 years, the barrier would cost $60,000 per suicide prevented. But, as we said, it is more likely just to shift the problem elsewhere.

With your support, 'Jump For Life' could raise up to $1 million per year towards suicide prevention with no significant cost to the bridge district. We propose that a professional bungee jump operator be permitted to provide jumps to the public from a small platform. This organization would staff the site and provide instruction. We believe jumps to the public could probably be offered at under $100 which would include a $25 donation towards mental health programs. If the program appealed to just 10 people an hour on most days, it would raise the quoted $1million per year towards mental health charities.

The intrigue of leaping from the bridge should be a force for good. Bungee jumping has the potential to be invigorating and inspiring for people of all walks of life. It is a noble cause to encourage people to overcome challenges and confront their fears. 'Jump for Life' aims to do just this. Standing on the edge of a precipice will help many people put their lives in perspective. It helps us all realize that achieving good grades, and paying the bills on time are worries that can be overcome.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a magnificent structure that is truly a man-made wonder of the world. It is a public resource of great value and it would be a tragedy to reduce it's allure and inspiring views with an unsightly barrier. We cherish the open nature of the bridge. We ask you to open it up, not fence it off.

Add Your Name to the Petition

Yes, I agree! - It is better to try to raise funds for suicide prevention by permitting bungee jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge than erecting a costly and unsightly suicide barrier.

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** Your email address is required only to give accountability to this petition. We will never, ever, sell, publish, or otherwise redistribute it. Occasionally we may send you an email to update you on progress of this petition. You will always have the option to unsubscribe.

The Barrier

In early 2005, UC Berkeley engineering students took up the challenge of suicide barrier design. Some of them don't look awful from afar, but up close is quite different. More pictures of the proposed barrier here

Which photo would you rather be in?

Frequent Questions

A barrier could almost guarantee no more deaths from the bridge. How can you be against this?

For every jump on the bridge, five people are persuaded not to jump. The bridge saved those lives! When you stand on the edge of the bridge, you will get an immediate reaction and support from passers by. Trained professionals will be on the scene in minutes. When you put a gun to your head in an empty room, no-one is there to coax you back from the brink. No one will be there to help until it is too late.

Each year, 17,000 americans will end their lives by putting a gun to their head. Only 20 will jump from the bridge. Let's use the bridge to give people a reason to live. Let's not move the problem to places where helping is harder.

How will this save lives?

We expect that the $1million raised annually by bungee jumping from the bridge could help save far more than 20 lives a year. We're looking for research that would back this up.

We're also interested to test whether making bungee jumping a tourist attraction would reduce the allure of the bridge as a solemn suicide destination.

How about bungee jumping and the barrier?

We are opposed to the financial cost and aesthetic impact of the barrier. But we also care and want to make a difference. Bungee jumping would be a force for good. It would be an inspiration for people of all walks of life, including those of us who want to challenge ourselves to overcome our fears and troubles.

You can't bungee jump off the bridge; there are ships out there!

We expect jumps will be done close to the south tower, or close to the north tower, so this would not be an issue. If the jumps were operated mid-span, it could be managed so that jumps were only made when vessel traffic was not present. This is not a difficult problem to surmount.

What happens if someone breaks their back doing this. Who's going to be liable then?

Bungee Jumping is a professionally organized sport boasting an excellent safety record. Taupo Bungy in New Zealand has done over 170,000 jumps without any fatalities. Bungee America near Los Angeles has been operating for 16 years without a single injury of any kind. Nevertheless, selected licensees would be required to have liability insurance like any other activity provider.

How will the cops control crowds on the bridge who stay to watch jumps.

The expectation of crowds is an indication that we're onto something. Yes, people will want to watch, and yes people will want to do it. However, since this will be offerred daily throughout they year, we do not expect foot traffic to be significantly more than it is today.

Comments

If you have comments for, or against this campaign, please email us at info AT jumpforlife.info

We'll try and publish all intelligent responses and comments here on this site. Soon hopefully we can set up a discussion forum.

About Us

The Jump for Life campaign was started by local adventurer, James Dilworth

"I cross the Golden Gate Bridge by foot or by bike at least twice a week. It really is one of my favorite places in the world. You'll often find me standing at one of the towers looking out to the Farallon islands, or at sailboats and windsurfers. Looking down from the bridge is always an adrenalin rush. It gives me the shivers, but I love it.

"I've always learnt in life that you become stronger by overcoming your fears. Do what you fear most and you overcome fear. Challenge yourself and you become stronger. Bungee jumping from the bridge has always been a secret goal of mine, but I respect the rules. Now I believe there is an opportunity to do a lot of good with this dream.

"Actor, Jamie Murray jumped from the bridge in 2003 and was fined $10,000. (View the video of his jump). But if it were legalized and some of that money could be put towards suicide prevention charities, I believe many lives could be saved.

"This proposal is good and deserves widespread support. Please pass the message on."

We should protect this freedom.

More Resources

You may find the following links useful.

• The argument for the barrier - Psychiatric Foundation of Northern California
• The fatal grandeur of the Golden Gate Bridge - The New Yorker
• Lethal Beauty - A series of articles from the San Francsico Chronicle
• Bungee America - The only legal bungee jumping outfit in California