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Ghost bikes

Old 04-06-11, 08:58 PM
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Ghost bikes

Hi there.

I am a doctoral student in art history and material culture studies. Right now, I’m writing a paper (that might grow into a journal article or even my dissertation!) about examining ghost bikes as votive objects.

If you have participated in setting up a ghost bike, have strong feelings about ghost bikes or have otherwise engaged with ghost bikes, please get in touch with me. I’d love to interview you either in person or via Skype.

Thanks so much.
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Old 04-06-11, 09:03 PM
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Old 04-07-11, 05:37 AM
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I aways thought that ghost bikes served primarily as a reminder to drivers that a life was ended due to someone's carelessness. Votive? I don't think so...
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Old 04-07-11, 08:17 AM
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I don't know if they are so much a votive offering to the gods as they are a local marker for the tragedy that occurred...sort of like a tombstone with a message. But at the same time it is more artistic and more poetic than a typical headstone and it is usually at the place of the accident (or at least a location is picked that was favored by the victim) so it becomes more of a tribute than an offering.
A friend and I were riding across the Lamar foot bridge here and we saw one and immediately stopped and payed our respects. He took some pictures and we talked a bit about bike safety. Then we rode on. The only thing missing was a prayer. It was very solemn.
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Old 04-07-11, 08:51 PM
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'Bicycling Times' just had an article on ghost bikes. Look into that to find some locations. Some cities remove them as soon as they are displayed.
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Old 04-08-11, 06:22 PM
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The main objectives of ghost bikes seem to be to discourage cyclists from riding on the road, and to encourage traffic authorities to ban cyclists from riding on the roads, by sharing stories of death and destruction. These seem to be the objectives of cycling "advocates" everywhere.
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Old 04-08-11, 07:10 PM
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