SAN FRAN TAKES THE FUN AWAY

Golden Gate Bridge directors voted decisively Friday to try to stop people from jumping to their deaths from the landmark bridge by hanging nets along the sides of the span.

The Board of Directors voted 14-to-1 to install the stainless-steel net system, which would be placed 20 feet below the deck, and would collapse around anyone who jumped into it, making it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to leap to their death. The lone "no" vote came from Director James Eddie of Mendocino County, who said his constituents did not consider a barrier necessary.

An audience of about 50 people, including psychiatrists, suicide prevention experts and family members of people who had jumped to their deaths from the bridge, applauded the decision. Some had fought for decades for a suicide barrier.

"This is a red-letter day," said Dr. Mel Blaustein, director of psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. "There's been a real change in attitude on this board, and I'm thrilled. It's just marvelous."

The net, which is expected to cost $40 million to $50 million, has the lowest projected annual maintenance and operation cost of five proposed suicide barriers and is considered the safest for bridge workers. The other four designs were 10-to-12-foot vertical or horizontal barriers that would sit atop the existing 4-foot railings.