There is a worldwide practice now of marking the place where bicyclists have been killed while riding in traffic. Bikes painted white are placed in the spot where the cyclist lost his/her life. This bike belongs to a woman, an experienced biker, who was killed just east of Snelling on Summit Avenue last week about 9:30 in the morning. With the advent of high gasoline prices more people are using bikes, and even before that, Twin Citians have been avid bicycle riders for pleasure and exercise as well as commuting back and forth to work. It is mandatory that motorist and bicyclists work together to cut down on these terrible tragedies. Too many motorists do not "see" and some of them actually resent and terrorize the riders, and, unfortunately, too many cyclists ignore traffic rules and proper night lights and reflective clothing. The road can be shared by all of us; we need to drive and ride intelligently.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Ghost Bike
There is a worldwide practice now of marking the place where bicyclists have been killed while riding in traffic. Bikes painted white are placed in the spot where the cyclist lost his/her life. This bike belongs to a woman, an experienced biker, who was killed just east of Snelling on Summit Avenue last week about 9:30 in the morning. With the advent of high gasoline prices more people are using bikes, and even before that, Twin Citians have been avid bicycle riders for pleasure and exercise as well as commuting back and forth to work. It is mandatory that motorist and bicyclists work together to cut down on these terrible tragedies. Too many motorists do not "see" and some of them actually resent and terrorize the riders, and, unfortunately, too many cyclists ignore traffic rules and proper night lights and reflective clothing. The road can be shared by all of us; we need to drive and ride intelligently.
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How sad. We see memorials like this in our area too. It seems such a tragedy buut a good reminder to share the road.
ReplyDeleteHello Kate !
ReplyDeleteYou have right : "La route peut être partagée par nous tous, nous devons conduire et rouler intelligemment".
It's the translation of Your last sentence.
In France, they are also bicyclists marking the place where bicyclists have been killed while riding in traffic...
Nice, but sad, photo...
See You later.
This is tragic. I feel anxiety while driving near cyclists. One wrong move on their part could put them in harm's way. You are right that most people just don't see then in time as they are eating, drinking coffee, fiddling with the radio, and of all things, texting! The latter I hope will be completely outlawed in every state.
ReplyDeleteThe punishment seldom fits the crime and in bike riding it is treated like a joke in some places. Around here they use wooden crosses and pictures and plastic flowers.
ReplyDeleteje trouve que c'est un bel hommage, et que les voitures ne respectent pas assez les cyclistes, j'espere qu'avec le temps cela va changer, de toute façon dans peu de temps, il y aura beaucoup plus de vélos que de voitures....
ReplyDeleteI think it's a beautiful tribute, and that cars do not have enough cyclists, I hope that over time this will change in any way in a short time, there will be much more than a bike cars ....
Unfortunately, there are too many of such memorials - flowers are also left in spots where car accident victims died. You can find these memorials in cities and the countryside as well in Hungary.
ReplyDeleteReading your caption I found many points in common on what happens here. Unfortunately it seems to be too difficult ""to drive and ride intelligently""
ReplyDeletevery sad. but as a memorial this composition is wonderful and its like a warning sign!
ReplyDeleteI saw one of these on the London blog awhile back. :(
ReplyDeleteI hope that drivers and cyclists can learn to share the roads.
I have moved to Baltimore, and the streets around here are much busier that Delta. I have my bike here, but have not had the guts to take it out on these streets yet!
ReplyDeleteTried to comment once, and it did not take. Odd.
ReplyDeleteI am in Baltimore now, and have my bike. The amount of traffic here has me wondering if riding around these roads is all that wise!
what a moving picture, so poignant with the love and grief that has gone into the memorial clearly evident. And good wake up call too, Kate, if everyone on the roads treated others as they would wish their own children to be treated (with a few twisted exceptions of course!!!) the roads would be much safer!
ReplyDeleteThat is very sad. I agree that many motorists do not pay attention and cyclists pay for that.
ReplyDelete