Ghost Bikes

[jig-sore]

why put a skeleton on a bike ??? or make it gory ???

the thing about ghost bikes is that they are striking without being gory and its the feelings they create that provide the shock.

I'm really not getting this "they make cycling seem dangerous" rubbish. utter utter bollocks

 

[notsolazy]

Ive never seen any of these or even heard of them before reading this today, but it is a good idea to make people aware. Its a shame this idea isn't a well known thing (being promoted - wrong word but the best I could think of - by the gov etc) as it would make more people aware

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I think they're a tasteful way to remind drivers of cyclists' vulnerability. I went past the shrine in Notting Hill (bike wheels tied to the railings where a woman lost her life) many times and it didn't put me off. It was tasteful and subtle.

 

[swee'pea99]

why put a skeleton on a bike ??? or make it gory ???

the thing about ghost bikes is that they are striking without being gory and its the feelings they create that provide the shock.

I'm really not getting this "they make cycling seem dangerous" rubbish. utter utter bollocks

Seems to me an uncalled for level of snarliness has come into this thread. There surely *is* an issue that, rightly or wrongly, at least some people who hear that 'that means a cyclist was killed there' will see that as vindication for their conviction that cycling is dangerous. In short, that ghost bikes put (at least some) people off cycling, and are therefore A Bad Thing.

I'm not personally entirely persuaded, but it seems to me things aren't as clear cut as some seem to be suggesting - and suggesting, moreover, with a degree of nastiness that seems quite unnecessary.

 

[MajorMantra]

[quote name='swee'pea99']I'm not personally entirely persuaded, but it seems to me things aren't as clear cut as some seem to be suggesting - and suggesting, moreover, with a degree of nastiness that seems quite unnecessary.[/quote]

+1.

Matthew

 

[marinyork]

I doubt that many non-cyclists have ever heard or seen a ghost bike to be put off. They might be somewhat disturbed if they found out and saw one, in the same kind of way you drive past fatality sites and there are flowers for children and they say oh that's sad, forget about it and disconnect it from the act of driving, of anybody driving. In that sense it's not that interesting to me as I think people think whatever they want and will reinforce/forget about what they don't like/don't like with a set of excuses.

 

[jig-sore]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Seems to me an uncalled for level of snarliness has come into this thread. There surely *is* an issue that, rightly or wrongly, at least some people who hear that 'that means a cyclist was killed there' will see that as vindication for their conviction that cycling is dangerous. In short, that ghost bikes put (at least some) people off cycling, and are therefore A Bad Thing.

I'm not personally entirely persuaded, but it seems to me things aren't as clear cut as some seem to be suggesting - and suggesting, moreover, with a degree of nastiness that seems quite unnecessary.[/quote]

funny how my emotion implies that the comment was NOT made in a "snarly" way. I'm not getting nasty at all, I'm just expressing my opinion that i "really disagree" with the opinions made.

OK, I'm sorry if it seemed "nasty"

 

[trustysteed]

saw quite a few of these in new york back in april and didn't know what they were till we got back to UK and watched an episode of CSI:NY that showed one!

when we realised what they were, it was quite touching.

i might be cynical but it wouldn't surprise me if the councils here decided they were 'litter' and cut them free and disposed of them before long.

 

[Banjo]

funny how my emotion implies that the comment was NOT made in a "snarly" way. I'm not getting nasty at all, I'm just expressing my opinion that i "really disagree" with the opinions made.

OK, I'm sorry if it seemed "nasty"

I dont share your point of view on the subject but certainly agree that you are entitled to your opinion .Not much of a discussion if we all just added +1 I didnt take your post as "snarly" just a strong expression of your point of view.

 

[asterix]

Seems to be London centric at the moment - hasn't spread that much outside, I've certainly never seen one in Manchester.

A while ago there was one in York where the Knavesmire cycle track crosses a service road to the race stands. A young girl on a bike was killed by a lorry driving to the stands. On this occasion they painted it pink.

 

[ComedyPilot]

A while ago there was one in York where the Knavesmire cycle track crosses a service road to the race stands. A young girl on a bike was killed by a lorry driving to the stands. On this occasion they painted it pink.

I think she was 16-18 years old.

http://www.readmyday.co.uk/andydag/archive/2009/05/10/pufnc3y3tdmp.htm

 

[purplepolly]

I was in EBC in manchester the other day and it looked like they had started selling ready-made ghost bikes. But no, it was just a bike made out of cellophane by an art student.