Vigils and Die-Ins.

I find them odd and would never want one if I died cycling.

They seem like a way for people unconnected to pretend they're doing something useful.

Wouldn't want one in my name either. Campaigns for cycle and general road safety yes, die-ins, not so much.

'Die-in' is just the worst name for any event, ever.

Exactly.

Disagree.

Don't always agree with the intentions of some of their organisers, but they do bring media attention to the issue they aim to raise.

Outside the cycling press, do they?

For me vigils seem fine if that's what people want but I really don't like the die-ins. For the record I'd rather not have either done in my name.

I think they can be a good way for people to mourn the passing of a person/pay their respects especially in the case of the deceased being taken back to their home country to be buried.

But do also find them slightly strange.

@Dramatic_Hammer people driving somewhere and they want to get past the die-in so they sit in traffic and google/tweet what caused the delay... oh

Nothing wrong with a vigil, it's a time and place to remember someone and pay respects. I wish people hosting die-ins would be more honest that it's a protest but I can understand that less people would turn up if they hadn't been tricked into thinking it's the same thing.

Vigils are definitely less weird than die-ins. Can't imagine anyone wanting a die-in in their name..

in the case of the deceased being taken back to their home country to be buried

This is a bit more understandable (vigils at least) for friends and people who actually knew the deceased.

Surely the funeral is the time and place for remembering someone and paying respects though, not a weird public meeting organised by people who have nothing to do with the deceased and who have their own agenda?

I find the idea of a 'die-in' very disrespectful and tasteless. If a loved one had recently died and then people did this, I would be very upset.
I also think it's disputable how much attention this form of demo generates. It seems like an out dated form of protest that only serves those taking part.

For the record: whilst cycling, if I ever get crushed by a truck / bus / dickhead in Range Rover, then everyone has my permission to do what they want in my name. Block roads, protest, burn cars, loot shops, destroy TfL offices, petrol bomb City Hall, do whatever you want or can to make sure my passing is remembered, might change something, isnt just a meaningless forgotten statistic, vanishing into the ether of time. I wont care about any awkwardness or possible hijacking of my death for the agenda of better cycling (the horror!) - I'll be dead. My family and friends can grieve at my funeral. The rest of you will have to continue to live on and put up with the shit that killed me (lack of separated bike routes - you want crossrail for bikes NOW ? I wish I had your patience) and try to make the city/world a better place.

(rant over)

If any one of my family was killed by a motorist, I would want to see the biggest die-in ever.

Their being dead would be the thing that would upset me.

(definitely over now)

This is based on the assumption that a die-in actually raises positive awareness and is constructive towards future policy. I really don't think they do achieve much. Seems like the kind of action that would only resonate with the demographic of those taking part.

That's your opinion.

You could easily say that the Crossrail for Bikes initiative came about because TfL were tiring of die-ins on Blackfriars Bridge Road, and wanted to give the cyclists their own space. Who's to say?

Argh, unfollow, unfollow! Dont @ me or reply to me in this thread please. More heat than light!

Really? Yeah, right, of course.

Surely the funeral is the time and place for remembering someone and paying respects though, not a weird public meeting organised by people who have nothing to do with the deceased and who have their own agenda?

@Dramatic_Hammer not sure most families would like the idea of a few hundered randoms turning up at the funeral, mine wouldn't mind at the wake so long as you are buying a round of drinks for them(yay piss heads). But yeah if they aren't so close then lighting a candle or vigil(usually lighting lots of candles together) is the next best thing, it's a way of taking time to stop and have a moment for someone even if it's just as you have that "if I left 15min earlier/if I wasn't running late today" feeling.

The die-ins I agree have an agenda, it's a protest that needs a death to latch onto.

These 'die in' folk wait in the wings waiting for another tragic death like the bloody Spanish Inquisition.

NB: vigils I have no problem with.

^ agreed!

Agree with the general sentiment here - I'm not keen on die-ins at all. That's not to say vigils (which I'm in favour of) are completely without an agenda as you are going to have some people there in a campaigning capacity, not just people who knew the victim or who want to pay their respects. I think that's natural, tbh.

IMO that's not nearly as problematic as a bunch of very much alive people lying on the floor pretending to be dead in "solidarity" with people who have actually lost their lives, purely to make a point. I do think it's disrespectful.

I guess we've all got different tolerances and ideas of what's respectful, though - I don't have a problem with ghost bikes but I know a lot of people here don't like them for the same reason they don't like die-ins.

I agree but I'm just not comfortable with displays of collective public grief for someone you don't know. It seems more for the benefit of the participants ('look at me, I CARE') than any friends/family.