Saturday, December 14, 2013

Ghost Bike



For the past year, this "ghost bike" on the causeway between Sanibel Island and the mainland has been chained to a sign advocating bicycle safety.  (What irony!)  It is a memorial to a young woman killed in 2011 in a collision with a car whose driver had fallen asleep after taking illicit drugs.

Yesterday the Department of Transportation removed the bicycle after receiving a few complaints.

I am disappointed.  Memorials like this act as graphic safety reminders to motorists and cyclists alike.

23 comments:

Andy said...

The roads at times can be wicked but I don't see anything wrong with leaving the ghost bike there as reminder.

Karl said...

Wow, a well decorated bicycle!
Why remove it?

William Kendall said...

I get that it is a memorial of sorts... but at the same time it is a potential source of distraction.

William Kendall said...

One that can cause acccidents in and of itself.

Malyss said...

Since I saw one of my friend, riding near me ,maybe one meter away, being hurt by a car and staying 4 months in hospital, I did not ride a bike anymore ..
Reminders must be kept!

Birdman said...

Memorials like this? I'm torn. How long should they stand? Forever?
But... I want this white bike!

Luis Gomez said...

These are always sad memorials.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

These memorials have a lot more impact than a highway sign.

Sylvia K said...

I agree with Dave, these memorials do indeed have a lot more impact than a crappy highway sign!!! Great, if sad, post for the day, Jack! Have a great, safe weekend!!

VP said...

I am glad that you had time to take this picture. It is really sad that they removed the ghost bike.

Sharon said...

That is too bad. I agree they are reminders to be very careful on the road.

RedPat said...

I think they should stay too. As long as they are still in fair condition like this one is.

Kay said...

Sometimes I think even a whack over the head wouldn't remind some mindless drivers. Ghost bikes are chilling, and I haven't seen many on the West Coast. We have a lot of informal crosses & flowers that pile up and stay at accident sites. I sometimes find righteous complainers annoying. How inconvenient to be confronted with the grief of another...

Taken For Granted said...

Not seen a memorial white bike decorated like this one before. They are always sad to see because it means some bicycle rider was run down by a car and killed. I've seen white bikes in both Iowa and South Dakota. The roads can be dangerous places for riders.

Kate said...

There have been quite a few ghost bikes around here lately, perhaps because this is a biking city. I have ambivalent feelings about them: yes, they are effective as reminders to be alert and careful, but if it was one I loved who was killed, the constant reminder is often difficult. But, we all grieve in our own way, I guess.

Charlestonjoan said...

We have a couple like that as well. Friends keep decorating them as a memorial.

Oman said...

that was one great memorial, is it rideable?

Randy said...

These people would not complain if the same thing happened to one of their loved ones. Too sad.

Stefan Jansson said...

Always horrible to see ghost bikes.

LONDONLULU said...

How disappointing this ghost bike was removed. I'm always saddened by the sight, but they make for such a poignant reminder.

Halcyon said...

That is very disappointing. :( And very sad. I don't know why this would bother anyone - it's kind of pretty.

Linda said...

Here the highway department has a sign that families or friends can put up, Drive Safely in Memory of [name].

CaT said...

horrible horrible horrible. and indeed they should not have removed it.
in the netherlands i complain about scooters on the separate biking path (but most of traffic accidents here do involve such a stupid scooter), in the US the problem is so much worse!! motorists really are not used to bikes and sometimes it seems to me they also do not want to get used to them...