This article is not intended to analyze the psychological reasons of why a person leaps from the bridge, because I actually know little about the subject. Thousands of tourists from all over the planet flock to the Golden Gate Bridge every day, but it is no secret that the Bridge’s intrigue, mystique, and popularity also attract another element those looking to end their lives in a romanticized manner by jumping off this famous landmark. Questions concerning this subject may be asked out of harmless morbid curiosity or possibly fueled by misconception of urban myths, such as those leading people to believe that suicide jumps, like earthquakes, happen here everyday, which of course, they do not. No doubt, suicide jumpers come to mind when one thinks of the Golden Gate Bridge. Answers such as these become part of our daily routine as bridge painters.”Īnother not-so-trivial subject matter often inquired upon by visitors to the Bridge, and still asked today when people find out what I did for a living, “What do you know about suicide jumpers?” “Yes, that is Alcatraz Prison the color of the bridge is called International Orange an elevator in each tower goes to the top no, we do not paint the bridge from one end to the other, then start again. Being involved in a visitor’s bridge experience became a simple means of sustaining my love for the bridge, helping to make my job more than “just a job”.Ī variety of questions concerning my years at the bridge are asked, but often the same ones come up ad nauseam, making the answers quite repetitious: At times, I felt like one who had been hired to wear a Mickey Mouse costume at Disneyland, posing for selfies, pointing the way to the restrooms, and having kids stomp your feet. I always enjoyed the privilege of interacting with so many tourists and visitors through the years. He insisted that I be courteous, take time to answer their questions, and try to make their visit to the Bridge as pleasurable as possible. We took to the east sidewalk first, and Rocky emphasized that dealing with tourists was an important part of our job. The west sidewalk, facing the ocean, was exclusive to bridge workers during the weekdays, off limits to tourists. He told me that the east sidewalk, which faces the bay was open to the public, both pedestrians and bicyclists. On my first day as a Golden Gate Bridge painter, the paint department superintendent, Rocky, took me onto the bridge in his paint scooter. It is a glorious job for any painter, and I am proud to have risked life and limb to do my part to keep the Bridge standing forever. What an honor to be responsible for keeping such a tremendous achievement of both design and construction safe in my hands! Constant maintenance from a permanent paint crew is required to dress this architectural treasure with a coat of International Orange, protecting it from the natural erosions of wind and fog, as well as the constant exposure of the steel to the salty air. I always dreamed of being a painter on the Golden Gate Bridge. The view of the San Francisco skyline humbled me each and every morning as I emerged from the Robin Williams Tunnel (formerly the Waldo Tunnel), heading south on Route 1.
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