Comments on: Weekend Would-Be Jumper on the Ellington Bridge

By: Bozoette Mary

Bozoette Mary — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:42:33 +0000

That particular bridge has been a jumping-off point since it was built. Before it was re-christened the Duke Ellington bridge, it was known as the Calvert Street bridge. When we (as kids) would whine about our horrible (not) lives, my dad would say, “Well, why don’t you just go jump off the Calvert Street bridge?”

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:58:10 +0000

It’s gotta be the tree canopy on Taft. You look down, you see leaves five feet away from you. Not very “goodbye cruel world” inspiring.

By: MtP

MtP — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:02:43 +0000

I read that the Taft bridge, despite being every bit as effective as a suicide bridge, just doesn’t inspire people to jump. The Ellington Bridge does. The barriers have been very effective in preventing people from jumping. This is one of the arguments for adding barriers to the Golden Gate.

By: Mr. T in DC

Mr. T in DC — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:50:51 +0000

My recollection is that the suicide hotlines were on the Taft Bridge, not the Ellington, but I could be wrong.

By: Darrow

Darrow — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:38:50 +0000

Pretty sure we did a story on the hotline phones (late 80’s) and they were on the Taft. Please don’t make me go find that photo.

Anyone know why no barriers on the Taft? It seems just as dangerous if one were so inclined

By: Fister

Fister — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:11:32 +0000

That would have been Ellington.

By: dc2wheel

dc2wheel — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:40:47 +0000

There were suicide hotline phones in the early ’80’s on either the Ellington Bridge or the nearby Connecticut Ave. [Taft] bridge. I can’t recall which, but one of the two had a serious reputation as a ’suicide bridge’ back in the day…at least among us local junior high kids.

By: Fister

Fister — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:02:13 +0000

There was a lot of controversy with the installation of the extended rails. Some thought the look detracted too much from the original intent/design of the bridge. others thought the suicide prevention aspects were too important.

I wonder just how many lives have been saved over the years?

By: Bridal Bird

Bridal Bird — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:06:10 +0000

I saw the police with this guy up against the railing on Saturday morning. I thought, “Huh, that guy must have tried to jump.” And it was a really unsettling realization.

By: Jason Cherkis

Jason Cherkis — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:32:17 +0000

I don’t recall the helplines but I have seen pictures of a jumper who made it over. It’s not pretty.

By: IntangibleArts

IntangibleArts — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:25:17 +0000

I seem to remember, in the ’80s, those barriers weren’t as tall and jumper-proof. And maybe this is your basic false-memory-syndrome talking, but didn’t that bridge have a couple of suicide helpline telephone boxes at about the middle of the sidewalk? Granted my memory is suspect, but that’s a clear enough vision to trust….