There is no public access to the towers on either the Bay Bridge or the GG. If you saw people on a TV show, it was probably an authorized visit showing behind the scenes stuff. Like on Dirty Jobs on Discovery or cities of the Underworld on History channel. The only people legally allowed to be on or in the bridge are workers for the bridge maintenance.
Realistically, unless you happen to one of the lucky few, or are a smart and athletic daredevil, your chances of making it to the top of the GG Bridge are slim to none.Usually when they do maintenance, someone has to climb up the cable for some reason. You would have to be escorted by someone who has clearance to goto the top and they in turn would have to notify the people in charge of security because the bridge is closely monitored by closed circuit television and they would stop any unauthorized persons from climbing the cable or taking the elevator.The other way would be if you were working for National Geographic or some company and were doing a photoshoot for business. They might let you shoot from the top of the bridge if you were doing some sort of movie or documentary.
Legally, you can t. Someone would call the CHP as soon as they saw you were where you shouldn t be,and in a few minutes the CHP would be there and arrest you.You would be on the 5 o clock newsthough. There s talk about allowing ( for a cost ) people to see areas of the bridge that are currently off limitsto the public.But if you mean climbing the outside of the towers,that can t happen unless you get hired as part of the bridge crew.
It is not allowed. You d be prosecuted. I hope they don t permit people to climb the GG bridge just to get revenue for the bridge district. They get too much money now, and won t dare raise the toll again. I never go into S.F. any more because of the toll.
Illegally.
No access after the attack on America on Sept. 11, 2001.
MAYBE you could say you re part of a movie crew. But don t count on it.