Baltimore’s First Ghost Bike.
08.09.09 in Baltimore, Events, General Cycling, Safety, The Man | Tags: Baltimore, bicycling, bicyclist, bikes, cycling, cyclist, ghost bike, jack yates, john yates, memorial, summer, tragedy | by John
May he Ride In Peace.
John
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25 comments
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08.10.09 at 12:47 am
Rantwick
I’m a little surprised that this is Baltimore’s first ghost bike… I thought they were an American phenomenon first.
People seem to love ‘em or hate ‘em. I just kind of middle of the road appreciate them. That particular bike is very nice looking, compared to London Ontario’s first (and only, for now).
08.10.09 at 8:18 am
TD
…and let’s hope it’s the last.
Thanks for the photos. I noticed the Baltimore Sun article this morning too: http://tinyurl.com/lzqgko
08.10.09 at 9:17 am
rb2rider
I’d never seen a ghost bike on the street until yesterday. Velocipede did a good job.
08.10.09 at 9:19 am
rb2rider
The comments/speeches/remarks at the ghost bike installation must have been brief. I was there not long after six, and they had already concluded.
08.10.09 at 9:26 am
Johnny
It was pretty brief and very very sad. Folks were talking about a ride afterward, but F, D and I left to ride up, around and through Druid Hill because Mr. Yates liked to ride there — and I, for one, was too hot, tired and…emotional for a long ride. But then when we got to the Watertower, we saw Barry and a couple folks ride by, so we should have stuck around for a ride I think. What little ride (10m) we did do cheered me up a little though, even though I was sweating all over myself.
08.10.09 at 9:32 am
Tragedy updates. « NORTH BALTIMORE BIKE BRIGADE
[...] Pictures from Memorial [...]
08.10.09 at 10:00 am
dukiebiddle
Rantwick, contributing factors as to why this is the first is that they’re a relatively recent phenomenon and this was Baltimore’s first bicycle fatality in years.
08.10.09 at 10:58 am
rb2rider
Johnny – Team Bridgestone rolled up a little late to the memorial, but I saw you guys there. (Can’t miss the trademark reflecto-vest and the orange helmet!) The ride took a while to coalesce, so you would have been waiting a while. We dropped out early, so I’m not sure how far they went.
08.10.09 at 10:58 am
Johnny
There have been quite a few Maryland cycling deaths this summer that were outside the city. I wonder if we couldn’t get a contingent and put up some Ghost Bikes at these spots. I do love Baltimore City, but it seems odd that these other folks should get ignored just because they didn’t die in the City limits.
I don’t have a car, so I don’t want to volunteer for something I can’t do myself. Any interest from like-minded folks? I have some old MTBs we could paint…
08.10.09 at 11:22 am
Pragmatik · Baltimore’s first Ghost Bike.
[...] gives me no pleasure whatsoever to write this. More photos here. Baltimore Sun article [...]
08.10.09 at 11:36 am
Harry
I joined the post memorial ride but peeled off at Keswick to get home for dinner.
I would have liked to see more of a mob at the memorial but better than nothing. Friends of mine in NY say they have ghost bikes all over the place.
I posted here.
http://drawger.com/hwc/?section=articles&article_id=8472
08.10.09 at 11:56 am
Sleepnow in dafar
You don’t have a car but, what we really need is a mid sized pick-up. I got that covered.
08.10.09 at 11:57 am
Harry
The United States has become “a nation which recognises only the freedom to act, and not the freedom from the consequences of other people’s actions,” George Monbiot wrote back in 2005. Our reliance on driving cars is his example of this anti-social behavior, but bicyclists can be just as bad. “When you drive,” he writes, “society becomes an obstacle,” rather than something you are a part of.
08.10.09 at 12:36 pm
Johnny
Hmmm, this might be a plan. I know there were two in OC, plus another in Southern MD. Wasn’t there one near the Con Dam?
08.10.09 at 5:44 pm
Boson
someone just alerted me to this:
http://wjz.com/local/cyclist.killed.memorial.2.1122111.html
”
Some cities allow the memorials to stand, while others take them down. Baltimore City’s Transportation Department tells Eyewitness News the chain will be cut and will be taken down in a week or so.
When that was mentioned to another avid cyclist, Mayor Sheila Dixon, she said she had different ideas.
“I’ll have a conversation with transportation about keeping it up. If it’s a great symbol of making people conscious, then I would support it,” said Dixon.”
um wtf?!
08.10.09 at 7:47 pm
Johnny
This is, frankly, bullshit. If they really intend to take it down, we should all:
1) Keep putting them up (even though the corner is under Big Brother video).
2) Block it from happening.
I’m all up for either approach.
But maybe Mayor Dixon will come to her senses if she hears the cycling community out.
08.10.09 at 7:47 pm
Johnny
From WJZ: http://wjz.com/local/cyclist.killed.memorial.2.1122111.html
Also video:
http://wjz.com/video/?id=59129@wjz.dayport.com
08.10.09 at 7:56 pm
Harry
All the crap on Baltimore’s streets and they’re going to use precious manpower to do this?
I would say make it an ongoing memorial, people should just keep stopping by and putting flowers, candles etc. It is Baltimore’s first Ghost Bike so why not make people notice?
Problem with preventing them from taking it down is not knowing when they would do it.
If they do take it down I would suggest picking a utility pole nearby and continue plastering it with stickers, billboards, etc. “A cyclist was killed here-and nobody was held accountable-and the city doesn’t give a s—!
We have a murder rate of 300+ and they’re worried about a white bike taking up space?
08.10.09 at 8:22 pm
Johnny
Holy flying poop, there’s a rumor I’d love to share, having the DISpleasure of being the first one to report on the accident (from riding by it). But the person who told me all but threatened me.
I did NOT just say any of that.
Take heart.
08.10.09 at 8:38 pm
Harry
Okay, so now Dixon is on it, let’s make sure it stays up. I’m going to e-mail her right now. Anybody else?
08.10.09 at 8:45 pm
Harry
Dear Honorable Mayor Dixon,
I’m writing to you regarding the Ghost Bike on the corner of Maryland Ave. and Lafayette St. and the disturbing and disheartening news that the transportation department may take it away. I know that you have said on camera that you would like to keep the memorial up if it can act as a reminder for motorists to drive safely. I hope you will follow through with this pledge and join the biking community of Baltimore in helping to make this Baltimore’s first and last Ghost Bike. I was among the mourners and activists at the memorial, a very grim scene, one that nobody wants to see repeated.
08.10.09 at 11:14 pm
Dear Mayor Dixon. « NORTH BALTIMORE BIKE BRIGADE
[...] (This idea was totally stolen from Harry. Or, rather, it is Harry’s challenge met. Will you complain when the Ghost Bike is gone, or will you email Mayor Dixon, too? Do it! And post your message here as a comment!) [...]
08.11.09 at 7:46 am
ten
well done velocipede
08.11.09 at 5:53 pm
Harry
Mr. Campbell-
The Mayor and the Department of Transportation thank you very much for
your email. The Department of Transportation was certainly surprised to
learn of the ghost bike removal. We have no intention of removing the
memorial at this time. We feel that it is a fitting memorial and a
crucial reminder that all users need to be alert and ride/drive/walk
defensively when navigating the streets of our city. We will continue
to make the streets safer for all and work aggressively to implement the
Bicycle Master Plan. If you have additional concerns, please feel free
to contact Nate Evans, our Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner, or myself.
Thank you,
Jessica A. Keller
Chief, Planning
Department of Transportation
10.04.10 at 4:03 am
[ 7x7 ] Day 7: Ghost Technology - Liz Rutledge
[...] http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/ghost-bikes-are-memorials.php http://nbbb.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/baltimores-first-ghost-bike/ [...]