When we say Hendrix, the first association is that I speak about famous guitar player Jimi Hendrix. This story has some connection with famous guitarist.

When we talk about bridges, we are talking about buildings that connect coasts and people. They have primary a political and social function  but also an aesthetic value. Some stand out for their beauty, some for their size, and some for their interesting stories. Railway bridges attract people the most because of their beauty and accessibility.

This bridge was the first railway bridge over the river Sava. At that time, it was the largest and most complex building in Croatia. Today there are 8 bridges on the main course of the river, and in the area of the city.Rail bridge is in the middle, close to all major roads, in a residential area. Close to public transport, sports and night clubs. A place full of people by day and night.

Type is arch bridge, famous Langer beam, Material is steel with buckles, Total length is 306 m, width: 9 m, the largest span: 135 m.

Traffic frequency is average 100 train per day.

The official name is the New Railway Bridge. Because the second, old bridge was is a few meters upstream. No one uses that name. Im so sure no one know it at all. It is usually called the railway bridge, the green bridge because of its color or the Hendrix bridge after the famous graffiti. During the 1987 Universiade, some guy hanging from a bridge, painted the name of his favorite guitarist for the first time.

He has no idea that his graffiti would mark the bridge for all time. Local goverment and Croatian Railway Infrastructure didnt like graffiti „because that  was devastation“ and they choose to move it. Repaint it.  After few days they find it new graffiti on same place. And they repainted again. After few day, you can guess, grafitti was on same place. So local goverment start fight with local community. They even hired security to keep brige from people but not to keep people from brige.

The constant writing grafitti on the bridge led to the fact that the name was finally recognized from local resident.

That conflict between the local government and the community achieved a large number of walking and climbing on the bridge.

PROBLEM: apart from its beauty, hendrix bridge also attracts risky behavior. the number of classic railway accidents is small, but the bridge is known for suicides and challenges of young people. There is 10 climbs per year, by individuals and by groups.

Access is simple. There is no fence. The path exists. A few steps are enough to be on track near the bridge. There is a warning and prohibition sign, but it is destroyed.

Railways bridges are similar as all other bridges but also hide dangerous moment:there is no space for pedestrian, train is wider than track, there is also electricity and it is big risk of electric shock, bridge has buckles on base and it is not stable for walking and because of vibration is big risk to falling down.

In 2018 there was a fatal accident and near fence we can see a lantern.

Risky behavior is not problem just for people who like challenges. Here is tesimony of train drivers who met group of children walking on the bridge. It was stressful situation for him. In last second he stopped train. – The young man in the picture can celebrate his second birthday today, and he took two years of my life – said the train driver.

There are no public statistics of extraordinary events or suicides from local goverment, railways or ministry of interior. there are only publications in the media and communication of the local community on social media that indicate risky behavior and casualties on the bridge.

When we make google search for the Hendrix bridge – we found a lot topics – connection between bridge and hendrix, to rename name, about climbing, walking, risks, tik tok challenges, accidents, fatals, suicide attempt, hendrix half marathon…

We found site with instructions on the easiest way to climb

We found also safety angels (residents) who called police by every climbing or walking. Imagine that safety on bridge depend of empathy of some neighbour on balcony or woman in market near bridge.

Hendrix is building with special aura.

It attracts almost everyone.

It is part of a touristic tour-

It was sung in a song.

Graffiti artists made a graffiti of hendrix bridge all around the city.

It was photographed 1milion times, even to the point of danger.

Under the bridge a sculptor made Waterman) Vodan stone sculpture.         �

Young artist created Hendrix jewelry.

Famous brands made advertising.

It is on the label of 2 local craft beers.

On the top of the bridge we found risky behavior.

Track should  be only for rail traffic but is not. There are always some curious exibitionist.

Under the bridge is a lot of outdoor activity, sports and cultural events. The most famous are the Green River Festival and the Hendrix Half Marathon.

Here is a key part of where and how it is possible to combine the attractiveness and special features of the hendrix bridge with the improvement of traffic safety and the reduction of risky behavior.

Vision zero approach recognizes errors in human behavior and seeks effective safety solutions. we in safety guru institute also recognize risky behavior on hendrix bridge. we act before accidents happen.

Some of SGI solutions: under the bridge

• Information boards with qR code with rules of conduct and warning about the dangers of risky behavior
• Education
• New educative and promotional material for all residens, specially for youngs
• Cooperation with graffiti artists, new graffiti space on the walls under the bridges
• By painting the buckles, the bridge can return to its old glory
• Motivation cards / focus on healthy activities
• Through sport and with steps that make difference to the traffic and rail safety

Last year we had lectures about the Hendrix bridge at 3 universities. We gave students educational flayers and motivation cards with some of Jimi Hendrix’s best quotes. the essence of the card is that when you are faced with a challenge or negativity, you read a quote that positively motivates you, shifts the focus to what is important and sets out to solve the problem or challenge.

You can keep the card in your bag, wallet, give it to a friend or as a bookmark.

I brought motivation cards for you too. (they are among the promotional materials in front of the hall.)

We also participated in the hendrix half marathon with our mascot  octopus with attitude and with steps that make a difference!