Motorway service station service bridges...

[Deluded]

So I was on the motorway today. The M1 to be precise. Stopped at a service station to let one of the dogs out for a dump and to get something to eat. Only problem was that the Northbound side was a mass of concrete paving with no grassy areas. Looked over the road to the Southbound side to see that it was all lush and green.

Oh look. A service bridge. So we drive over to the southbound side (obviously ignoring the "no public use" signs), the dog has a nice dump and I get some nice food. Back over the bridge and on our way again.

My question is, why are the service bridges for service use only? Why are the public not supposed the use them? Am I really expected to drive to the next junction and back to use the services on the other side (in this case, a bit of grass)? They are also quite handy if you are meeting someone coming from the opposite direction.

[littleredrooster]

Jumpers. They became too popular with people who wanted to end it all in a spectacular way.

[Deluded]

But you could do that on any motorway bridge. Seems silly to stop public use just because a few people drove to the middle of nowhere, parked up, used the convenient free lavatories, maybe had a KFC and then threw themselves off the service bridge.

[terzo]

The grass always appears greener on the other side.

[littleredrooster]

And they do do that on any bridge. Service areas did not want the added responsibility of having to be accountable for jumpers on their property.

BTW - they're often sweaters before they're jumpers.......

[Starfighter]

So the directionally challenged don't get lost and spend all afternoon touring the car park looking for their car when they were heading north but thought it would be nicer to eat the southbound sandwiches.

[Dave J]

if your going to commit suicide, I wouldnt have thought you would be bothered about getting fined for using a no public access bridge