The Troubling Rise of the Ghost Bike (Outside Magazine)

[djg21]

Paint an old bike white and place it at the roadside scene of a cyclist’s death and you have a ghost bike. It’s a variation on the crosses that dot the West to mark fatal crash sites, except ghost bikes are nondenominational and carry a second message other than grief, a message intended for drivers: Stop killing us.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-troubling-rise-of-the-ghost-bike?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[Black Dog]

They are sobering reminders to cyclists. Not sure the same is true for drivers.

[oliver1850]

They are sobering reminders to cyclists. Not sure the same is true for drivers.

I would agree. Doubt that many motorists even know what they represent, even if they notice them.

[monkeytusmc]

I would agree. Doubt that many motorists even know what they represent, even if they notice them.

I never knew what they were, i thought they were decoration for the longest time.

[Peter P.]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

[tctyres]

+1 They are ugly.

http://ghostbikes.org/new-york-city

[Black Dog]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

I agree. However, a memorial that is displayed for a limited duration seems reasonable.

[ntb1001]

I agree. However, a memorial that is displayed for a limited duration seems reasonable.



Same sentiment here...I don’t mind a brief display as a memorial and awareness. I have one around the corner from my house...not a normal bike car accident. Driver had a medical, went over curb and struck and killed a cyclist riding on sidewalk..I don’t know how awareness can help that situation. Ghost bike was mounted on a post, taken down and now back a second year. I don’t think this is appropriate anymore.




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[flydhest]

I don’t agree that having a ghost bike up where someone was killed is more of a personal message than pushing to make sure one is not there. Saying that we don’t want to commemorate the deaths is a statement in and if itself. A political statement.

[BumbleBeeDave]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

Tough crowd.

[crankles]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

Suddenly got kinda chilly in here.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . pay no attention whatsoever to these bikes, it's worth it to have them to remind cyclists that it's dangerous out there.

I don't think there are going to be enough of these bikes to clutter up roadways, nor are they "eyesores."

BBD

[marciero]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

This misses what ghost bikes represent. They are not personal messages. They are more akin to protests, and maybe vigils, than they are to memorials, and we have a long history of using public spaces (broadly construed here-a highway is not a "public space") for those. Totally inappropriate for a cemetery.

[oldpotatoe]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.
Tough crowd.

No kidding, it’s not like they are on every corner..there’s one just up the road from me, left turn off really busy road..reminds me to be careful there. But ‘eyesore’? Pretty low threshold for ‘eyesore’, imho.

[R3awak3n]

Agree with bumble, marciero and OP here, not an eyesore at all.

[fignon's barber]

Agree with bumble, marciero and OP here, not an eyesore at all.

Me too.

[Cantdog]

They're an eyesore, just like typical roadside memorials.

No one has a right to co-opt public space for their personal message.

It belongs in the cemetery, where the dead are buried.

Insert ‘You Kids get off my lawn’ or ‘old man yells at cloud’ meme.