ghost bike for Marco Acuapan in Orange County, CA
This is a ghost bike, it appeared on my street a few weeks ago. When a cyclist is killed a ghost bike appears shortly thereafter, painted white and typically with a plaque - a memorial for the cyclist that was killed. Until the ghost bike came to my neighborhood I didn’t know such a thing existed. I find it to be a beautiful but tragic memorial.
Ghost bikes aim to honor fallen cyclists, raise awareness
Around the globe, all-white bikes are being chained to street signs near the sites of fatal accidents involving cyclists.
They are called ghost bikes — somber reminders of tragedy and intended as a quiet statement in support of a cyclist’s right to safe travel, proponents say.
One of the latest emerged this month on a sidewalk on Telegraph Road in Ventura near where Nick Haverland, 20, was struck and killed by an alleged drunken driver as he was riding to Ventura College.
Like most ghost bikes, the Ventura memorial was installed anonymously and without anyone seeking permission from the grieving family or authorities.
The bike — with handlebars, pedals and wheels intact, but stripped of its cables — was placed within days of Haverland’s death on May 11. It was installed among dozens of bouquets of flowers, part of a roadside shrine that has deeply moved Haverland’s parents and family, said Ventura Mayor Bill Fulton, a family friend.
“They have been touched by what’s been a profound outpouring of support,” he said.
The first ghost bikes were created in St. Louis in 2003. The memorials since have appeared in at least 150 locations throughout the world, according to Ghostbikes.org, a website managed by a group of volunteers in New York City that tries to track the sites.
“We know there are many more locations,” said Danny Gamboa, 37, a Long Beach-based documentary filmmaker who is making a film on the subject.
In California, there have been 29 cyclist-involved deaths since the beginning of the year, he said.
“That’s like one every week and a half,” said Gamboa, a cyclist and father who has installed ghost bikes for fallen strangers.
How long the iconic memorials remain in place often depends on the situation and community response. In New York City, where dozens of ghost bikes have been placed, New York’s sanitation department proposed removing the memorials, which it called eyesores. In California, it’s technically illegal to leave a bike locked to a street sign like the one on Telegraph Road.
Ventura will allow the bike to remain for at least the short term, said Tom Mericle, Ventura’s transportation manager and acting city engineer. The city is considering installing a bike bollard at the site. The ghost bike could be locked to it, rather than the street sign. The bollard would be painted white out of respect for the memorial, Mericle said.
As for the long term, it would be up to city leaders, Haverland’s parents, Jim and Susan, and the community on how to treat such public displays, he said. Road safety also would be paramount, so it would have to be removed if it were to become an unintended distraction to motorists, Mericle said.
The Haverlands could not be reached for comment for this story.
Gamboa sees the ghost bikes as pieces of art, and believes they can have a profound positive impact as memorials that raise awareness about road safety. He pointed to a ghost bike installed for a 12-year-old girl struck and killed on a street near her home in Compton in Los Angeles. That bike became a rallying point for a grieving community, leading to a large candlelight vigil, new signage and greater communication.
“It’s a way for the community to come together and heal,” he said. “These are unnecessary deaths.”
Two bicyclists have been killed on Ventura County roadways this year, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office — both by alleged drunken drivers.
A ghost bike was installed for Jose Luis Carmona, 40, of Santa Barbara, who was struck and killed March 5 on the Pacific Coast Highway near Faria Beach Road.
Haverland graduated from Foothill Technology High School in Ventura in 2009 and was remembered by friends and family as a lover of learning and the outdoors. A public memorial will held for him at 3 p.m. June 5 at Arroyo Verde Park off Day Road in Ventura.
The suspect in his death, Satnam Singh, 49, of Ventura, has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges.
The death of both bicyclists has hit home with Ventura’s close-knit cycling community.
“Nick’s death was heartbreaking,” said Rachel Morris, an avid cyclist and executive director of Ventura nonprofit group VCCOOL.
Morris sees Haverland’s ghost bike as a touching memorial. She hopes it helps reinforce a needed change in culture that fosters mutual respect among all who share the streets.
“We (cyclists) all travel the same unsafe streets and face the same risks. Many of us have those close calls every day,” Morris said.
She was among several riders who wore pictures of Haverland pinned to their jackets during last week’s annual Ride of Silence, an event held in cities across the country to honor cyclists killed or injured by cars.
Gamboa rejected the suggestion that ghost bikes are installed for notoriety.
“This is not something we like doing,” he said. “I hope this is not a trend or a movement. I wish we would never do another one. We hate seeing people die.”
Street memorials can take many shapes; Silver Lake, Los Angeles, now has a bicycle shaped memorial for the victim of a April 17th shooting.
A Ghost Bike For Manuel Santizo
Manuel Santizo, 28 years old, was murdered on Del Mar Avenue at Hoover Street last Sunday by unknown assailants as he pedaled home from a trip to the store. First they reportedly struck him with the vehicle they occupied and then shot him where he’d fallen.
Last night a contingent of Midnight Ridazz gathered at the location of the crime to install a ghost bike in his honor.
Until 6 p.m. today family members and friends are holding a carwash to raise funds to help his wife and infant son who are absolutely devastated.
If you find yourself in the neighborhood of Myra and Effie (pinpoint map) in Silver Lake, find it in your heart to make a contribution.
The sister of fallen cyclist James Laing pauses to say thank you »
The sister of fallen cyclist James Laing pauses to say thank you
Chances are, you didn’t notice it.
It was just a comment that appeared on here Monday, on a story I wrote a couple weeks ago. But who wrote it, and what she had to say, speaks volumes.
It seems like such small and insignificant gestures to install a ghost bike or hold a ride in memory of a fallen cyclist. Not nearly enough to ease our overwhelming sadness and anger, or bring comfort to the families of the victims.
Let alone result in real change on our roads to keep it from happening again.
Then I read this comment from Peggy Laing-Krause, the sister of James Laing — the cyclist killed by an alleged drunk driver in Agoura Hills last month:
What a beautiful tribute to my brother to ride in his honor and visit the accident site. I have come down from Sacramento 3 times since Jim’s death and each time I visit the site, it has grown larger than the last. So touching to me, and to my family who live in So. Cal., to see the compassion from all the riders. Being an avid cyclist myself, I know of the close unity that exists in the bicycling community… no matter where you live. Thank you for your tremendous support and thoughtful coverage of Jim’s accident. You ARE making a difference.
I must have read that a dozen times over the past couple days. And it’s brought a tear to my eye every time.
And yes, it makes me feel even more guilty that I wasn’t able to be there for the memorial ride.
So to the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club, who sponsored the ride in memory of James Laing, and the Bicycle Johns Agoura Hills, who went out of their way to accommodate the riders and make it happen — thank you.
And to everyone who has taken the time to remember James, Danny Marin, Michael Nine or any of the far too many other riders who’ve fallen on SoCal streets in recent months, in whatever way, take just a moment to take Peggy’s comment in.
You are making a difference.
For the families of the victims. And for all of us.
via BikingInLA
REDLANDS: Bike club plans memorial for fallen rider »
posted by PE News on November 11, 2010 1:01 PM
A memorial bike ride and ceremony is planned on Saturday to honor of Paul “Lynn” Pletcher, 70, who was killed Nov. 4 when he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike in Beaumont.
The Redlands Water Bottle Transit Company will lead the ride, which will depart at 8 a.m. from Stell Coffee and Tea Company on Barton Road in Redlands and travel to the accident site on Champions Drive near Cherry Valley Boulevard.
The riders will conduct a short ceremony and leave a ghost bike chained at the scene. Ghost bikes are painted white and usually have a sign with the name of the person who was killed and the date of the accident.
Members of the Redlands Water Bottle Transit Company may establish an annual Lynn Pletcher Memorial Ride starting next year. Funds raised would go to a charity or the Yucaipa High School Scholarship Fund in his honor. Pletcher, who was retired, had worked for the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District more than 20 years.
— JAN SEARS
jsears@PE.com
Ghost bike for Derek Allen
6th Avenue and Clement
San Francisco, CA
posted October 10, 2010:
A ghost bike is chained up at the corner of 6th Avenue and Clement, in memoriam of the cyclist that was killed there last Thursday night during a collision with a MUNI bus. The victim was 22 year old Derek Allen who, according to initial reports, may have crossed into the street in front of the bus. The bus driver, Tommie Barnett, swerved but was unable to avoid hitting Allen.
A similar ghost bike was left at the scene of another cyclist fatality at Turk and Masonic in August.
Meant to act as street memorial to the fallen cyclist, some offerings have already been left in remembrance including flowers, shells, nuts, a candle and rocks. Typically the city will let the bike remain for several days before cutting the chain and removing it.
On Friday evening, Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar issued this statement about the accident:
Statement from Supervisor Eric Mar regarding bicyclist Derek Allen | October 8, 2010This morning I visited the site of the MUNI accident on 6th Ave at Clement Street, where 22 year old bicyclist Derek Allen was killed yesterday evening at 5pm. I am concerned because I ride my bike there all the time. While our City has made progress in making streets safer and expanded bike lanes in San Francisco, we need a better streets planning process for parts of the Richmond District which must include residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and merchants. To create a more livable community, we must find ways to safely share the roads- drivers, pedestrians and cyclists- all of us together. There have been a number of tragic traffic accidents including the killing of a bicyclist in August on Masonic and Turk and I hope that drivers can be reminded of how vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists are on the road. I am anxiously awaiting the City’s investigation, but my staff and I have been meeting with Richmond residents, Police, Muni staff, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and safety advocates to develop solutions.
Sarah B.
(via RichmondSFblog)
I walk to work too and A LOT of drivers texting away, yapping on their cell phones not paying attention to pedestrians/bicyclists having the right of way when we have the green light. Hopefully this wasnt the case but either way this poor man is not coming home tonite.”
Last week more than 80 people jammed into the Orange County Wheelmen’s monthly meeting. Most were cyclists. But many were not. And what was especially encouraging – and appreciated – was that each person took time for what promised to be a pretty somber evening.
The title of my topic? “Why cyclists are killing one another, and how we can stop.”
Considering anyone at all showed up speaks not only to the commitment to safety, it speaks to the dire situation.
…
A lot more cyclists need to clean up their act before we can really focus on non-cyclists.
They need to stop breaking traffic laws, ride safely and ride with courtesy. It’s the least each and every cycling organization in Orange County – mountain and road, official and unofficial – can do to help reduce the number of deaths.
ghost bike for Nils Yannick Linke
Advocates Call on SFMTA to Take Immediate Steps to Fix Masonic Avenue »
A week after a 21-year-old German tourist on a bicycle was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver on Masonic Avenue, the first death of a bicyclist in the city this year, advocates who have been working for years to calm the major arterial are calling on the SFMTA to make immediate safety improvements.
The SFMTA recently unveiled four long-term options to fix Masonic, but in light of Nils Linke’s death Friday night, and with the bike injunction finally lifted, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Michael Helquist ofBIKE NOPA and other advocates are urging the agency to take action sooner rather than later.
“We’ve been really happy and encouraged to see the long-range vision the MTA is putting forward in terms of the four options that have been presented at the community meetings. We think this is really going in the right direction but with the recent tragedy this past weekend we feel like it really underscores the need to make some immediate improvements,” said Renée Rivera, the SFBC’s acting executive director.
She would like to see buffered bike lanes installed immediately, on a trial basis, in both directions of Masonic Avenue between Ewing Terrace and Fulton Street.
Ghost bike memorial for Nils Linke killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike at Masonic and Turk, SF.
(08-25-2010; 20:58 PDT) SAN FRANCISCO [Masonic/Turk] — A vigil was held for German visitor Nils Yannick Linke, who was killed August 13 while riding his bicycle on Masonic. Neighbors, bicycle advocates, and District 5 San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi attended the tribute and Reverend Will Scott, pastor of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, gave a blessing. A friend of the Linke family sang Amazing Grace.
