Afternoon:
8°c
'Ghost bikes' in London
Mark Prigg1 Oct 2008
'Ghost bikes' are appearing across the capital in memory of cyclists killed on the road.
Painted white, they are chained to railings or lamposts at or near the spot of an accident. A website has been set up which shows their locations and gives information. One was left in Hackney, where in April 37-year-old Antony Smith died when his bicycle was in collision with a tipper lorry.
Another was put in Greenwich Park by Greenwich Cyclists in memory of Lennard Woods, 53, who died last July. The club, which is planning a permanent memorial, said ghost bikes should be used to highlight accidents across London.
Club member Anthony Austin said: "I think they are very useful to remind people of the person who has died, and to show how vulnerable cyclists are.
New York has hundreds of ghost bikes. A City resident said: "When we make them, we honour that stranger we know could just as easily be our friend."
Reader views (15)
I saw a ghost bike in london today. I've read of them before, but seeing one like that really brings home how careful we need to be on the roads.
- Paul, bridgwater, 24/09/2009 20:48
Report abuse
A good idea, a reminder to careless drivers who jump red lights or drive whilst yakking on the phone or sideswipe cyclists in their desperate need to race to the next traffic lights that their actions could have fatal, tragic results. In the vast majority of cyclng acidents the driver of the vehicle is at fault and they often seem to get away with a slapped wrist. If this jolts their conscience it's a good thing.
- Steve Chappell, Bow, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
It would be great if the many cyclists who disobey the law and cycle through red lights would stop doing so - they are not exempt from these regulations. This is not only highly dangerous for themselves, but also for the many pedestrians who have to navigate around them. As a cyclist myself, I hate the negative press that we get because of these inconsiderate cyclists.
- Jlo, London, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Nice idea, but unfortunately I have no doubt they will get stolen.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
More anecdotes about people being "nearly knocked over" by cyclists, but the stats don't lie. No-one has been killed or seriously injured in London in the last five years by a cyclist shooting a red, it's the motorists who kill. Even on pavements, motorists are by far the biggest killers in the land, as incompetent drivers swerve out of control.
I myself always wait at reds. But I have every sympathy with those cyclists that don't, while cyclist boxes are dominated by goods vehicles and cabbies - an effective declaration of intent not to give cyclists the minimum safe overtaking distance once the lights go green and the jamboree begins.
Let's have the first £10,000 in any personal injury claim uninsurable by law. And yes, I am insured, both as a cyclist and motorist. We cyclists don't get "nearly knocked down", it's actual. And to judge by my extensive experience, it's usually deliberate.
- Reg, London, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
It is for drivers such as Danny from Milton Keynes that these bikes are put in place, even if drivers completly miss the point of what it should mean to them as a driver. Of course drivers don't want to be remineded of death while sitting in their metal box, however, drivers need to be constantly reminded that they are all potential killers when driving. Nothing personal, but it is true. It is an awareness/acknowledgement of this fact that is sadly lacking. Danny and Ricks attitudes are typical of many motorists in this country who have a total lack of respect for other road users in attitude. So, when you see a 'ghost bike', think about how that person was killed. Then, when you next turn left, or pull away from lights, be sure to use your mirrors and look around you.
Even better, use public transport or get on your bike.
- Brian, London, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Visually impressive and haunting. Next they could set up memorials to the hoards of fixed wheel fashionistas I see daily pushing their way through pedestrians legitimately crossing the road and riding with no regard for other road users. They give ammunition a plenty to the anti bike brigade and intensely annoy fellow (or not) cyclists such as myself.
- Nellie, EAST LONDON, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
People please....Seeing a white bike is not going to stop people driving like they do. Does "Smoking kills" on cigarette packs stop smokers? No.
This is nothing but littering and the people caught should be fined for it too.
If you want to remember someone who sadly passed, do what others do and place some flowers, plant a tree somewhere, buy a park bench and have it put somewhere or, and I know its old fashion now but, use a cemetery! That’s what they are there for!
I don’t want to be reminded of death whenever I drive to work. Otherwise I would drive through a cemetery.
I am against people putting any type of shrines where people died.
Whatever next, park another car there where people have crashed?
- Danny, Milton Keynes, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
this will only make eyesores everywhere because within one night the wheels ,seat and handlebars will have been stolen and all that will be left is the frame,why not stick to flowers at least they are pleasant on the eye.
- Peter Killick, Hartlepool United Kingdom, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Steve from Bow, the only road users I see jumping red lights ARE cyclists. One turning right across York Street recently caused a heavy truck to slam on the anchors.
As a partially sighted person, even crossing at a controlled crossing I have nearly been knocked over by those cyclists who take no notice of the traffic lights.
- Blind Pugh, Woking, UK, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Steve I think you'll find it's the cylists who jump red lights, not the car drivers.
- Rick, London, UK, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
I am the brother of Antony Smith, who was killed by a tipper truck on his bike and to whom there is a ghost bike as mentioned above.
Antony was a very keen cyclist and a very good one. He may well have been embarrassed by the attention the ghost bike has created as he didn't court attention, but as a devout member of the cycling fraternity and a keen environmentalist he would not have wanted these to serve as a means to detract other people from cycling.
What the ghost bikes serve to do, is make a point that there are some accident black spots in England, Kingsland Road in Hackney has incurred many deaths in recent years, and when I went to the scene of the accident, I could see why so many accidents occurred there and I hope that it highlights that these junctions are death traps in waiting.
I have read that some lorry companies now have side sensors on their lorries and that they have started using them. Already I have read that one lorry driver said that they have saved him from killing another cyclist as he took a corner and I hope that they can help promote these kind of initiatives
Used in the right way, the ghost bikes can help save other lives, but I agree that if there an overkill of these in the streets of England and worldwide, they may be detrimental to the positive effects that cycling provides
- Alistair Smith, Sydney, Australia, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
Any thing that makes people think is a good idea.
A few years ago, whilst covering the Tour de France, certain areas of eastern France, had black "people sillouttes" one each for the person who had been killed at that loaction.(small ones for children)
Flowers may be pretty but this certainly focussed the mend, and made one reduce speed, much better than a speed camera would.
Does any one remember the tfl campaign a couple of years ago, those white annimated cycle road paintings to me appeared like dead cyclist's souls leaving the body!
- S Knattress, London, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
i have seen a few of these in london, they are a positive thing to raise awareness and we need to support this initiative. if you want to see less bikes then help to ensure that less cyclists are killed. ps no one steals the parts either
- Alex Monaco, london, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
What a stupid idea. Why give other road users something else to be distracted with. I'd have thought the money could have been better spent on providing cyclists with proper road safety training. It astonishes me the thigns cyclists do when they are one of the MOST vulnerable road users.
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle, 24/09/2009 19:48
Report abuse
