Ghost Bikes

Hello Greasy Slag and Guerilla Photo and everyone in the community,

I'm a freelance student journalist and I'm making a short TV package on ghost bikes and people's opinions of them and road safety. I would really love to speak to anyone involved with ghost bikes and especially someone who may have made one. There seems to be quite a split of opinion about whether they are a good thing, and with the mayor so keen for us all to get cycling I'll be looking at what people really think needs to change to get us off four wheels and on to two.

Any help would be really appreciated as I've got about a week and really want someone's story at the centre of this so that it stays relevant and about people - not policy makers.

contact me Sonja on - 07859 064 227
sonja-dcruze@hotmail.co.uk

My wife died on Theobalds Kinglands way. No joke. Just need to post on here 5 times so that I can PM someone about a campaign they are running. I think they are a great idea, anything that raises awareness and hopefully prevents anyone else suffering such a needless and hateful death as my wife can only be a good thing.

Hello Bill, I'm so sorry to hear about your wife.

A lot is being made of ghost bikes at the moment and whether they're a good thing - I was wondering if we could met for a chat about this as I'm a freelance student journalist and I'm making a short TV package on ghost bikes and people's opinions of them and road safety.

Any help would be really appreciated as I've got about a week and really want someone's story at the centre of this to raise awareness and so that it stays relevant and about people - not policy makers.

Many thanks,

contact me Sonja on - 07859 064 227
sonja-dcruze@hotmail.co.uk

well that's because cunts co-opt the aesthetic, reducing the impact

In the same way as the Ghost Bike project has co-opted the "White Bicycle" (a once radical idea) and turned it into gothic sentimentalism...?

I was staying out of this, having said everything I had to say previously, but I see that I've been dragged into it.

I would be interested in hearing about the "white bicycle" and the similarities that ghost bikes bear to it/them. The specific point in that (old, old) thread was as much to do with the placement as the colour, plus the fact that the people responsible for it were well aware of the ghost bike campaign but indifferent to it because it offered them no scope for profit.

An article on Melbourne Ghost Bikes being removed. Really hope they find a way to keep them.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/call-for-ghost-bikes-to-be-left-alone-20111005-1l9p7.html?posted=successful

An article on Melbourne Ghost Bikes being removed. Really hope they find a way to keep them.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/call-for-ghost-bikes-to-be-left-alone-20111005-1l9p7.html?posted=successful

Anyone cycled in Melbourne? Is it as bad as some of the comments make out?

Ghost bikes I think are becoming essential, a real sober reminder that you don't need to dwell on. And to call these "distractions" is beyond a joke, some of the advertising they have in Aus shouldn't be legal on the side of the road.

I'm from Melbourne and don't remember it being anywhere near as bad as here... though that was 12 years ago. Seems like cyclists are becoming hated there sadly. It used to be great as it was such a sporty city though now everyone seeems to be a fat fuck in a 4x4.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/nov/10/ghost-bikes-memorials-cycling-victims

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/nov/10/ghost-bikes-memorials-cycling-victims

Was about to post and link to that article.

It's an awkward dilemma. On the one hand i think it's important to remember those fallen, and it's a good reminder to cyclists and motorists to be gentler on the road.

On the other hand, I've had two instances this week where I had to defend cycling in London after suggesting two friends get bikes to commute the 2 mile journey from home to uni instead of using bus/ tube.

They mentioned the ghost bikes they saw acted as a cautionary tale that at best makes them pause for thought and at worst think cycling in London is a completely deadly activity.

I'm glad graveyards are hidden away because seeing those stones puts me off living.

Not much of an article but that bike looks amazing.. a lot of love for Lee wasn't there.

Ghost bikes work in a number of ways, reminder to cyclists of the risks and challenges posed cycling in london, remembrance and mourning for a loved one, reminder to drivers they share the road to more vulnerable users...

but to put cyclists off?? thats just piss poor journalism, I wouldn't let my loved ones out cycling in town without them understanding the risks, without that healthy bit of fear you will ride around ignorant, do that and we will soon see you in a rider down thread!

I'm glad graveyards are hidden away because seeing those stones puts me off living.

^ repped

I'm glad graveyards are hidden away because seeing those stones puts me off living.

This is the start/finish line for the IoM TT, the view from the grandstand looks out over Douglas cemetery.

And where, statiscally, two riders will end up each year.

Unfortunately yes.

I'm glad graveyards are hidden away because seeing those stones puts me off living.

^ repped

Yeah just removes my will to live........

As I've said before: Roadside memorials are OK, but why single out only the memory of people who were killed while riding bikes? It would be far better to have memorials for every person killed while walking or driving, too. RoadPeace memorials are ideal--not showy, but permanent and quietly effective.

the ghost bike and memorial on whiston road has been removed recently

Tackle it piece by piece Oliver.
Road deaths are in high numbers but we can take care of londons cyclists as one group, I like the roadpeace memorials, they fit well but i'd prefer a bike in place of a flower

(Also posted elsewhere)
[

](http://cargocollective.com/lasseandsuchi)[Lasse Kristensen and Suchi Ahuja](http://cargocollective.com/lasseandsuchi). They created this guerrilla campaign to highlight the danger of wearing headphones whilst cycling in London - which plays on the 'ghost bikes' that appear in London at sites that cyclists have lost their lives in traffic.

This is an outrageous exploitation of ghost bikes for cyclists blaming. Really pisses me off!

That is really, really terrible, it's not even a memorial.

Lasse and Suchi

You are wankers.

Plus you have pets names.

Seems to be all road users though - there's another one about a ped being killed too.

Doesn't excuse them for appropriating something and then commodifying it for their own gain though.

That seriously pisses me off. Headphones don't kill people, motorvehicles do.

lassekristensen@gmail.com
suchiahuja@gmail.com

I've just sent them an email. Will be interested to see if I get a reply...