Ghost Bike Memorials Vanishing From Roadways
KOAT - ABC News Channel 7
Published: Feb, 28 2010
Ghost Bike Memorials Vanishing From Roadways
Bike Enthusiast Tries To Save Memorials
POSTED: 6:26 pm MST February 28,
2010
UPDATED: 6:32 pm MST February 28,
2010
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Some
local bicycle enthusiasts have been placing ghost bikes all over the
city to help remember their friends, but they said the ghost bikes have
been vanishing.
"Well, a ghost bike is a type of roadside
memorial just like a descanso that people in New Mexico are familiar
with," said bicycle lover Jennifer Buntz.
Buntz and some of her
friends started to set ghost bikes up after Roy Sekreta died in a wreck
while he was crossing Comanche Street near Interstate 25 in 2008. But
the bike memorializing Sekreta disappeared a short time later.
"That
was removed by the department of municipal development and they said it
might compromise the function of the guardrail," said Buntz.
A city spokesman said officials decided to take the ghost bikes down due to safety concerns.There
is one ghost bike left in the city at the corner of Comanche and
Pennsylvania streets in memory of Paula Higgins. Her friends said they
hope it doesn't vanish."We hope that it stays and we hope that we did it right and we'll find out, I'm sure," said Buntz.
But
for the meantime, Buntz hopes the ghost bike serves as a reminder for
both drivers and bicyclists on the road to slow down and for everyone
to remember the lives lost.
"They're a roadside memorial like any
other. We want to put them up safely. We certainly don't want to
endanger anybody and make situations better and we need city's help
because we can't know all the reason with why they might have issue
with a certain placement," Buntz said.Buntz said that's why she asked the city for guidelines so she can know where ghost bikes can legally be placed.
A
city spokesman said they're currently reviewing the last
administration's policy on ghost bikes and hope to be able to offer a
compromise in June.
Published: Feb, 28 2010
Ghost Bike Memorials Vanishing From Roadways
Bike Enthusiast Tries To Save Memorials
POSTED: 6:26 pm MST February 28,
2010
UPDATED: 6:32 pm MST February 28,
2010
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Some
local bicycle enthusiasts have been placing ghost bikes all over the
city to help remember their friends, but they said the ghost bikes have
been vanishing.
"Well, a ghost bike is a type of roadside
memorial just like a descanso that people in New Mexico are familiar
with," said bicycle lover Jennifer Buntz.
Buntz and some of her
friends started to set ghost bikes up after Roy Sekreta died in a wreck
while he was crossing Comanche Street near Interstate 25 in 2008. But
the bike memorializing Sekreta disappeared a short time later.
"That
was removed by the department of municipal development and they said it
might compromise the function of the guardrail," said Buntz.
A city spokesman said officials decided to take the ghost bikes down due to safety concerns.There
is one ghost bike left in the city at the corner of Comanche and
Pennsylvania streets in memory of Paula Higgins. Her friends said they
hope it doesn't vanish."We hope that it stays and we hope that we did it right and we'll find out, I'm sure," said Buntz.
But
for the meantime, Buntz hopes the ghost bike serves as a reminder for
both drivers and bicyclists on the road to slow down and for everyone
to remember the lives lost.
"They're a roadside memorial like any
other. We want to put them up safely. We certainly don't want to
endanger anybody and make situations better and we need city's help
because we can't know all the reason with why they might have issue
with a certain placement," Buntz said.Buntz said that's why she asked the city for guidelines so she can know where ghost bikes can legally be placed.
A
city spokesman said they're currently reviewing the last
administration's policy on ghost bikes and hope to be able to offer a
compromise in June.