The Golden Gate Bridge Sound

Overview

The Golden Gate Bridge Sound refers to the noise made by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California due to the new bike rails installed that reverberate when there are high winds. The sound was first noticed in early June 2020 and caused Twitter users to post videos of the sound and memes regarding the occurrence.

Background

On June 5th, Twitter user @betogilardino posted a video of noise outside their house with the caption, “Can someone explain me why is this eerie sound has been going on for an hour in #SanFrancisco #presidio #sound #eerie #whatisthis #2020SoFar #2020BingoCard” (shown below). The video gained over 3,800 likes and 760 retweets in three days.

Can someone explain me why is this eerie sound has been going on for an hour in #SanFrancisco #presidio #sound #eerie #whatisthis #2020SoFar #2020BingoCard pic.twitter.com/gS4ui2WSxh

— Alberto Martinez A (@betogilardino) June 5, 2020

Spread

On June 5th, 2020, Twitter user @sdw tweeted, “Extremely 2020: the new railings on the Golden Gate Bridge produce a constant, ominous hum in high winds that is audible for miles” (shown below, left). The tweet garnered over 1,800 likes and 400 retweets in three days. The next day, Twitter user @lemonpuree posted a nobody: meme regarding the bridge and gained over 5,500 likes and 890 retweets in two days (shown below, right).

That same day, Twitter user @RaemondBW posted a video of the bridge with the caption, “The Golden Gate Bridge now makes music. You can hear this whistle all over the city” (shown below). The video accumulated over 30,400 likes and 7,400 retweets in three days.

The Golden Gate Bridge now makes music. You can hear this whistle all over the city pic.twitter.com/W1V9Dw4sXb

— Raemond (@RaemondBW) June 6, 2020

Twitter user @markkrueg explained that “Engineers designed new sides for the sidewalk to help with wind resistance but didn’t take into account the EXTREME sound it creates when wind passes through it. The bridge sings crazy songs now it’s so trippy. It hurts the ears and unbearable it’s that loud” (shown below). The tweet received over 26,700 likes and 11,700 retweets in three days. The SFGate reported on the sound that day.

Anthony J.:
“Engineers designed new sides for the sidewalk to help with wind resistance but didn’t take into account the EXTREME sound it creates when wind passes through it. The bridge sings crazy songs now it’s so trippy. It hurts the ears and unbearable it’s that loud.” pic.twitter.com/GWdVia1GNS

— Mark Krueger (@markkrueg) June 6, 2020

Various Examples

TIL: The Golden Gate Bridge has just become the world’s largest wind instrument.

No, but seriously:

There is now a permanent creepy 3-tone dissonant soundtrack flooding San Francisco thanks to some recently completed bridge construction. pic.twitter.com/05ImVT7Im7

— ʀeeᴅ (@reedm) June 6, 2020

Golden Gate Bridge be like pic.twitter.com/VQD0f9jcHg

— Gina Linetti (@GinaLin88822273) June 6, 2020

Search Interest

Know Your Meme Store

External References