Rachael Leek
Rachael Leek
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Age: 20
Location:
10th and Tennessee
Lawrence , KS
United States
From an article on KTKA.com
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Ghost bike memorial honors cyclist killed in hit-and-run
Photo by Nick Krug
A pedestrian crosses the street behind a "ghost
bike" placed near the intersection of 10th and Tennessee streets in
memory of Rachel Leek, a Lawrence resident who was killed while riding
her bicycle as a result of a hit and run accident near the spot in the
early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2009.
Three days before the one-year anniversary of Rachel Leek’s death, friends decided the time had come to build a public memorial.
On Wednesday, they used a pink chain to lock an all-white bike to a
no-parking sign on a grassy spot along the 1000 block of Tennessee
Street. They then adorned the bike with fresh flowers, gold beads and a
picture of Leek.
“Right after putting it up, we noticed people slowing down right there,” said Alyssa Montoya, a good friend of Leek’s.
On Oct. 16, 2009, the 20-year-old Kansas University student was
killed by a drunken driver as she rode her bike south on Tennessee
Street, not far from where the memorial sits.
The bike, the first of its kind in Lawrence, is the cyclist
equivalent of white crosses placed along roadways, which memorialize the
victim and remind drivers to be careful. Known as ghost bikes, the
memorials are in more than 100 cities throughout the country.
“It really stands for a symbol for all cyclists and drivers to be
more aware of each other and be safe. So it doesn’t have to happen
anymore,” Montoya said.
The idea of a ghost bike began circulating shortly after Leek’s death.
Friend Dylan Medlock asked the city of Lawrence to allow for a
painted bike and an awareness plaque at the corner of Ninth and
Tennessee streets. The city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee endorsed the
plan and expanded it to include putting other ghost bikes throughout
town.
Those plans were later shelved at the request of Leek’s family.
But on Wednesday, a couple of Leek’s friends decided the time had
come for a memorial. They used a bike that Montoya had found after
Leek’s death and decorated it. Montoya said others are welcome to put
their own reminders of Leek on it.
“They stay up in other cities and are maintained, and they really do
seem to make a positive impact on people. I am hoping the city of
Lawrence will be willing to let it stay,” Montoya said.
Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee Eric Struckhoff wasn’t aware
that a ghost bike had gone up on Wednesday. But he said they are a good
way to remind drivers to be cautious of cyclists.
“I have seen them in other cities. And, they do get your attention,” Struckhoff said.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Age: 20
Location:
10th and Tennessee
Lawrence , KS
United States
From an article on KTKA.com
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Ghost bike memorial honors cyclist killed in hit-and-run
Photo by Nick Krug
A pedestrian crosses the street behind a "ghost
bike" placed near the intersection of 10th and Tennessee streets in
memory of Rachel Leek, a Lawrence resident who was killed while riding
her bicycle as a result of a hit and run accident near the spot in the
early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2009.
Three days before the one-year anniversary of Rachel Leek’s death, friends decided the time had come to build a public memorial.
On Wednesday, they used a pink chain to lock an all-white bike to a
no-parking sign on a grassy spot along the 1000 block of Tennessee
Street. They then adorned the bike with fresh flowers, gold beads and a
picture of Leek.
“Right after putting it up, we noticed people slowing down right there,” said Alyssa Montoya, a good friend of Leek’s.
On Oct. 16, 2009, the 20-year-old Kansas University student was
killed by a drunken driver as she rode her bike south on Tennessee
Street, not far from where the memorial sits.
The bike, the first of its kind in Lawrence, is the cyclist
equivalent of white crosses placed along roadways, which memorialize the
victim and remind drivers to be careful. Known as ghost bikes, the
memorials are in more than 100 cities throughout the country.
“It really stands for a symbol for all cyclists and drivers to be
more aware of each other and be safe. So it doesn’t have to happen
anymore,” Montoya said.
The idea of a ghost bike began circulating shortly after Leek’s death.
Friend Dylan Medlock asked the city of Lawrence to allow for a
painted bike and an awareness plaque at the corner of Ninth and
Tennessee streets. The city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee endorsed the
plan and expanded it to include putting other ghost bikes throughout
town.
Those plans were later shelved at the request of Leek’s family.
But on Wednesday, a couple of Leek’s friends decided the time had
come for a memorial. They used a bike that Montoya had found after
Leek’s death and decorated it. Montoya said others are welcome to put
their own reminders of Leek on it.
“They stay up in other cities and are maintained, and they really do
seem to make a positive impact on people. I am hoping the city of
Lawrence will be willing to let it stay,” Montoya said.
Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee Eric Struckhoff wasn’t aware
that a ghost bike had gone up on Wednesday. But he said they are a good
way to remind drivers to be cautious of cyclists.
“I have seen them in other cities. And, they do get your attention,” Struckhoff said.