Suicide barriers don't work

To the editor:

No surprise here.

A new study published in the British Medical Journal now tells us what was obvious before city council spent $6 million of our tax dollars and ruined one of Toronto's great landmarks - the Bloor Street Viaduct suicide barrier doesn't stop people from jumping to their deaths. It simply sends them to other bridges.

That was the case with my cousin, Donald Noble, who, in 2002, just as the suicide barrier was completed, crossed the Bloor viaduct by subway, transferred to a bus, got off at the Leaside Bridge and jumped to his demise.

The $6 million spent on the viaduct suicide barrier perhaps extended my cousin's life by about 10 minutes. This was of little consolation to our family.

Instead of erecting that metallic monstrosity, those millions would have been much better spent on identifying and helping those in need before they decide to give up on life, not after.

Hopefully a future and wiser city council will decide to dismantle that hideous symbol of tragic horrible death and restore the Bloor viaduct, with its magnificent panoramic views of the Don Valley, to its former unobstructed glory.

Keith Noble