photo courtesy ghostbikes.org.
The Denver Post published an article yesterday on the “Ghost Bike” phenomenon that’s gaining steam in cities like New York, Denver, and San Francisco. After a cyclist was struck and killed by a car in Lafayette, CO a bike, spray painted completely white, appeared at the intersection with a sign memorializing the fallen rider. Ghost bikes also serve as a reminder to cars and riders to be more respectful of one another.
There’s somewhat of a mystique around who plants the ghost bikes and what happens to them when they disappear. A New York filmmaker is creating a documentary exploring the idea which sounds pretty interesting. I really like the idea of memorializing fallen riders and I wouldn’t be surprised if the concept started popping up on more mountain bike trails.
You can find out more about ghost bike memorials at ghostbike.org. Keep your eyes peeled the next time you’re out and pay your respects.
