Ghost Bikes

I read a small snippet about Ghost Bikes in a piece of press recently (I forget exactly where...), and after having a look around the website think it's a lovely, if slightly sad idea that's totally worth telling people about. 

"Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel."

The Ghost Bikes were originally set up in St Louis, Missouri in 2003 but soon made their way across the pond. 


"The ghost bike movement began when Patrick Van der Tuin saw a vehicle hit a woman in a cycle lane in St Louis. He later placed a white bike there with a notice saying: "Cyclist struck here."
ghostbikes.org/press 

Passing it each day, Van der Tuin was impressed that drivers took note and slowed down."

It's scary just how many people are knocked off their bikes every year, and devestating how many die as a result. 

Anything that helps people to remember cyclists, slow down or just take more time to look out for them is amazing. To do it in such a visually striking way just makes it that much more amazing. 

"Ghost Bikes now operates in 43 countries and 75 cities worldwide".