City of Durham NC threatens to remove Ghost Bike
07-30-15, 07:16 PM
#26
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In this particular case, the issue is that Durham recently passed an ordinance that requires memorials to be removed within a short period of the City receiving a complaint from a citizen. This particular ordinance was a hurry-up sideways approach to remove a memorial set up in the parking lot of the Police Dept for a teenager who committed suicide while in custody. Nevertheless it applies to ghost bikes and other types regardless of how they are maintained. What it means is that any single person, for any reason, can request removal and the City has to comply. There is no appeal process and also no validation that the complainer is really a citizen. There is a movement to force the City Council to revisit the policy to allow a more reasonable handling of the ordinance. Visit the petition site for more info.
07-30-15, 07:50 PM
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In this particular case, the issue is that Durham recently passed an ordinance that requires memorials to be removed within a short period of the City receiving a complaint from a citizen. This particular ordinance was a hurry-up sideways approach to remove a memorial set up in the parking lot of the Police Dept for a teenager who committed suicide while in custody. Nevertheless it applies to ghost bikes and other types regardless of how they are maintained. What it means is that any single person, for any reason, can request removal and the City has to comply. There is no appeal process and also no validation that the complainer is really a citizen. There is a movement to force the City Council to revisit the policy to allow a more reasonable handling of the ordinance. Visit the petition site for more info.
07-30-15, 08:28 PM
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No matter how you slice it, or the whys or wherefores, 2 years is more than reasonable for this type of extemporaneous memorial. If/when the city changes the policy, I'll venture that it will result in faster removal, not slower.
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07-30-15, 08:41 PM
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If I'm ever rendered a ghost in a road incident I most certainly want a ghost bike made up for me... for riding!
07-30-15, 11:08 PM
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07-30-15, 11:35 PM
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I certainly hope nobody puts up a ghost bike if I meet my demise while cycling, its just too "trailer park".
07-31-15, 04:38 AM
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It was a joke. Me riding a ghost bike when I'm a ghost. 
Personally, I don't believe much in either.
Then again, a ghost on a bike could likely ride through cars... That'd be pretty cool.
Personally, I don't believe much in either.Then again, a ghost on a bike could likely ride through cars... That'd be pretty cool.
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 07-31-15 at 04:45 AM.
07-31-15, 06:02 AM
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07-31-15, 08:30 AM
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Durham's current policy is 30 days following a single triggering complaint. The ordinance does not have a time limit in the absence of a trigger (and I think they should have written one in - maybe a year); however 30 days is a slap in the face for the victim's family and friends. My sense of the issue here is that there is more anger about how a single person on a mission to remove ghost bikes can use the ordinance to satisfy his or her goals, real or perverse.
07-31-15, 08:36 AM
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What blows is the fact that any one complaint from anyone (even the driver who killed the person or persons, or a non resident!) can have any specific memorial removed after any amount of time... even when the majority of the community may endorse having it up, or not care either way.
The policy, what ever it is, should never allow a single person to make the call.
In this particular case, the issue is that Durham recently passed an ordinance that requires memorials to be removed within a short period of the City receiving a complaint from a citizen. This particular ordinance was a hurry-up sideways approach to remove a memorial set up in the parking lot of the Police Dept for a teenager who committed suicide while in custody. Nevertheless it applies to ghost bikes and other types regardless of how they are maintained. What it means is that any single person, for any reason, can request removal and the City has to comply. There is no appeal process and also no validation that the complainer is really a citizen. There is a movement to force the City Council to revisit the policy to allow a more reasonable handling of the ordinance. Visit the petition site for more info.
07-31-15, 08:48 AM
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What blows is the fact that any one complaint from anyone (even the driver who killed the person or persons, or a non resident!) can have any specific memorial removed after any amount of time... even when the majority of the community may endorse having it up, or not care either way.
The policy, what ever it is, should never allow a single person to make the call.
If you read my earlier posts you'll see that I suggested the policy be replaced with a fixed maximum time limit, with shorter limits possible based on nuisance value (to be determined by other means than a single complaint). But that's moot in this case. The memorial was up for two years, which is more than a reasonable time regardless of why it's being removed now. I'd be more sympathetic if we were talking about removing a memorial (any) within 90 days of the death, or even longer, but not two years which is the real point here.
I suspect that the city was tryng
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
07-31-15, 11:51 AM
#38
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I had no Idea of the memorial in the police hq parking lot and the knee jerk response of the city. It figures. What irks me is that a single person can complain and the city immediately jumps to action. Thanks for the petition link, Matariki. I signed it and sent it up the road.....
07-31-15, 12:41 PM
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sorry I missed the joke. I agree, if I am ghosted, I guess I want a ghost bike to ride too!
08-03-15, 02:50 PM
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08-03-15, 04:59 PM
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Roadside memorials have gotten ridiculous, I have seen ones that consisted of very dirty stuffed animals, malt liquor bottles, and joints. Memorials are what graveyards are for. If grandma dies in the upstairs bedroom of your house you are certainly welcome to erect a memorial to her but most people don't because they don't want that sort of thing on their own property.
08-05-15, 08:59 AM
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They already have really swell bikes in heaven. And station wagons with fins and no seatbelts because nobody gets into accidents. If I get there me and Lumpy are going fishing after I get a call off to Mrs. Cleaver.
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08-05-15, 10:55 AM
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08-05-15, 11:22 AM
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Never mind the bike, I want June! 
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