A ghostly tribute to cyclists killed on our roads
The Observer ran an article about these ghostly memorials to cyclists killed on the roads in horrendous RTA's (Road Traffic Accidents.)
So, here is my tribute to those killed on our roads...
Image courtesy of Ghostbike.org.
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Why are Ghost Bikes a problem?
I love the idea; it's moving, it's beautiful and it's a chilling reminder. However, I do understand the concerns of others that:
... they are placed without consideration for others sometimes, even, being placed on private property
...they do cause a certain amount of littering especially if they are vandalised or stolen.
NYC Ghost Bike Ride, 2008
A bike ride and walk in honor of cyclists and pedestrians killed on New York City streets in 2007
Did you know?
Jo Slota of San Francisco is attributed with creating the first Ghost Bikes
Advocacy group Time's Up! places a ghost bike in New York city every time a cyclist is killed.
The first known ghost bike was installed in Saint Louis in 2003.

What do you think of Ghost Bikes?
I believe that some people may not agree with Cyclist memorials 'littering' the side of our roads. There's also the risk of the bikes being vandalised or stolen.
Who will keep them maintained?
Who will replace them if they're destroyed or stolen?
Do they get 'in the way'?
Are there better ways of paying tribute to the death of a loved one?
What do you think?
Also, join in with the debate, Roadside memorials - Are they a nuisance?
Are Ghost Bikes littering our roads? Should they exist?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, why not? All people who die before their time should have memorials.
No! Most memorials are placed inconsiderately. They also litter the streets.
0ctavias0fferings says:
I've never seen one, thank goodness, and although I like the idea of a memorial or, as I have seen in other road deaths, flowers being set out on the anniversary, I wouldn't like to see anything of this size permanently displayed as I should have thought it could be a hazard. As an anniversary display, it would be acceptable.
Posted June 11, 2009
ElizabethJeanAllen says:
I've never seen a Ghost Bike and I like the idea of a memorial, but are they giving other bikers and walker an obsticle to go around? That could be a problem. A memorial is not much of a memorial if it causes another accident.
Posted October 09, 2008
spirituality says:
The signs look too much like the ordinary 'bike path' sign in the Netherlands for my taste. To me it would just be confusing.
BTW: if the roads gave cyclers proper room, they would not have to go on the pavements.
Posted October 09, 2008
"They make people aware of the individual and they work as artistic traffic calming."
Local Ghost Bikes
On a walk out the other day, one had mysteriously appeared near where I live. Unfortunately, the light was failing and I didn't have a camera to hand so I couldn't take any good pictures of it at the time. This particular bike fatality happened well over a year ago so it proves that Ghost Bikes are making an impact on many people's lives.
This Ghost Bike (Rosie Wright, 26, Died: March 9, 2007) was chained to a private residence fence. The junction at which this Ghost Bike was situated is at a notorious accident black spot. A pedestrian has already been killed whilst crossing this road. His memorial is regularly replaced on a street light.
Keep Safe on the roads!
Best of Ghost Bike Tweets
Best of:
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- retweet | reply inkserotica
- What do you think of ghost bikes? http://twttrlist.com/11QT
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- retweet | reply inkserotica
- Check out "Ghost Bikes - What are they?": http://twttrlist.com/11QT #twttrlist
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- retweet | reply bikepalooza918
- Breaking: Ghost Bikes UP at SH51 Crash Site! http://www.newson6.com
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- retweet | reply kenwj
- Murcia, Spain: Powered by Nature: Murcia en Bici joins the Ghost Bikes initiative http://tinyurl.com/l3hsxt
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- retweet | reply Rurik4464
- Ghost bikes on parade http://www.flickr.com/photos/rurik4464/3609523608/in/photostream/
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- retweet | reply bikejax
- RT @jaxdotcom: A bicyclist killed crossing 103rd St . today. http://snipurl.com/jpvaw Was really hoping not to do anymore Ghost Bikes.
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- retweet | reply ahhyea777
- Ghost Bikes - The City's Viral Memorials for Cyclists -- New York Magazine http://ff.im/-3JGt6
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- retweet | reply popplestone
- del.icio.us: Ghost Bikes | ghost bikes http://tinyurl.com/6w9cqj
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- retweet | reply lukescheybeler
- Cyclists... just don't ever ride on Kingsland Road. It's a complete deathtrap. Three ghost bikes... and counting.
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Can I buy a Ghost Bike?
At this point in time, I would say that it wasn't possible to buy a Ghost Bike as it is. However, this may change and I could already be proved wrong.
Any resources I do find that enable you to purchase Ghost Bikes, I will list here, so please do keep returning back or subscribe to this Lens' feed :)
One way around this is to make your own Ghost Bike using your dearly departed's bike as the memorial (in order to obtain the bike, you may have to wait until the Police have finished with it as it could have been used as evidence. Aside from that you have to take into account any damage that may have occured as the result of the accident) or an old bike picked up from a scrap merchant.
- Remove any fixtures from the bike that could be stolen from the bike in the future.
- The next step, then, would be to paint or spray the whole of the bike in white paint.
- To avoid damaging the bike further or scraping off the paint, carry the bike to its final resting place rather than wheel it.
This is important! If you plan to place the bike to a fence, railing, post, street light, gate etc, please do seek permission from the owners or relevant authorities.
Who's talking about Ghost Bikes?
- The ghosts haunting British roads
- The white skeletal shrines, known as "ghost bikes", mark the spot where a cyclist has been killed. Rebecca Barry explains why. Ghost bikes don't just ...
- New Bike Safety Ads Take a Confrontational Approach
- ... is the biggest issue,? said Leah Todd, a spokesperson with Streets Memorial Project, the group responsible for the white cyclist memorial ghost bikes. ...
- Tribute to dead cyclist on A23 removed by council bosses
- Ghost bikes are commonly left as tributes to cyclists who lose their lives on the roads. One appeared at the junction of Devil's Dyke Road and Saddlescombe ...
- Woman Out On Bond After Crash
- It begins at 15th & Quaker and continues to the crash site in Sand Springs, where white "ghost bikes" stand as a memorial to Voss and Edmonds.
Ghost Bike Video Memorials
Pay Tribute...
...to those killed on our roads
Antony Smith, 37
Died: April 27th 2008
Antony aka 'Smudge' was killed in a collision with a truck in Hackney, east London, at the corner of Middleton Road and Kingsland Road. he was a graphic designer, cycling his usual route to work.
James Foster, 36
Died: July 15 2003
James was hit by a speeding car while wheeling his bike across Essesx Road in north-east London. Pal Sarn Baggett built the ghost bike. It was installed on the fifth anniversary of his death and later vandalised.
James Danson-Hatcher, 23
Died: 4 May 2007
James was on his way home from cycling on the South Downs when he was in a collision with a car at the junction of Devils' Dyke and Saddlescombe Road. The ghost bike was placed as a memorial and a protest against a high speed limit on the road.
Rosie Wright, 26
Died: March 9, 2007
Research assistant, Rose of Newington Green, north London, was crushed to death by a lorry two days after buying a new bike. Her dad, Peter Wright, said: " We need to separate bikes and trucks." Rosie's ghost bike was the one just up the road from me. Unfortunately, the ghost bike has since been removed.
Lucinda Ferrier, 33
Died: June 23, 2008
Lucinda was hit by a lorry in north-east London. A notice on her ghost bike describes her as "beloved daughter of Nicholas and Mimi, sister of Olivia, Paul, Charles and Andrew, companion of Stuart."
Barry Cawley, 37
Died: 30 July 2000
Barry Cawley died on the road between Llanwrst and Betws-y-Coed in Conway, north Wales. He was mountain biking with two friends when all 3 were involved in a collision with a speeding car. Barry and the driver of the car were both killed.
Emma Foa, 56
Died: Christmas 2006
Emma was a jeweller and a writer. She was killed by a lorry driver at the junction of Camley Street. She'd been crushed between the rear wheels of a cement mixer and the roadside railings.
Learn more about Ghost Bikes here
- Ghost Bike Mpls
- Ghost Bike Mpls. This website is dedicated to preserving the memory of bicycle riders that are killed on the streets of the Twin C
- Ghost Bikes | ghost bikes
- Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque.
- GhostCycle.org
- The intent of the Ghostcycle project is to raise awareness for everyone regarding bicyclists on the streets of Seattle.
- Ghost Bike DFW
- Raises awareness for cyclists' safety in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.
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CleanerLife wrote...
I was wrong before, apparently the Ghost Bike tributes actually started in the States, but not near me. I still haven't seen any in person, yet.
Ramkitten wrote...
I had no idea this was a common practice until now. I saw a "ghost bike" here in Flagstaff, Arizona a while back--though I didn't know it had a name--after a young husband and father was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike (ON the sidewalk!) I saw the white bike a week or so later, locked to a utility pole near the site of the accident. A couple of weeks later, when I drove by again, the bike was gone. No idea where it went or why.
Winter52 wrote...
Until today, I had never heard of them, but I'm sure that there is lots of things that are just waiting to be explored. The roadside memorials I am very familar with.
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
I've never seen a ghost bike and I'm not sure I like the idea. There are other ways and places to put a memorial.
Interesting topic. You did a wonderful job on it.
Lizzy
mulberry wrote...
As someone else said we have roadside memorials along roads etc. In consideration of those grieving I think they are ok as long as they don't create a nuisance or involve the use of someone else's property. But I do feel there should be a time limit. Over time things look trashy or a road begins to look like a graveyard.
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