Ghost Bike at Dunlavy & Westheimer, Houston
The other day while driving around Montrose, discussing “LOVE” signs, a friend suggested that I write a post on Ghost Bikes. My reaction was initially a bit tempered, not sure if the topic of Ghost Bikes relates to art but also concerned it might be a bit somber.
“But everyone in Houston is talking about Ghost Bikes,” she countered.
Ghost Bikes are memorials for bicyclists who are killed on the street. We have probably all seen them—the installation is assembled with a bike painted all white, chained to a street sign at the site of the accident, and is accompanied by a small plaque and flowers. They not only memorialize a loved one but also act as a reminder to watch for cyclists and support cyclists’ rights of safe passage.
Ghost Bikes started in St. Louis in 2003 and have taken off worldwide. And though there is a group in each major city to assist in erecting this type of remembrance, it is said that anyone can create a memorial without permission to do so, which makes each somewhat unique.
Ghost Bike on Waugh, Houston
Most people in Montrose have seen the Ghost Bike at Westheimer and Dunlavy. Amidst the groovy boutiques and eateries it is hard to miss the memorial for Leigh Boone who was crushed by a ladder truck in 2009 when it collided with another fire engine while responding to an alarm. Thought to be the second Ghost Bike in Houston, Leigh’s was the first to garner such attention not only because of the widely reported tragedy but also for the high visibility area.
I think the Dunlavy Ghost Bike was dismantled during the recent construction of the new bakery on the corner–the corner that used to be the Carpets by Joy (“A Room Without A Rug is Like a Kiss without a Hug”) building and is now where hipsters line up for 45 minutes in the mornings for a croissant. But the tribute is back and seems to have been freshened up.
Most recently a Ghost Bike has appeared under the oaks on Waugh Drive just south of West Gray. Last December Chelsea Norman was riding her bike home from work at Whole Foods when she was hit by Margaret Mayer who fled the scene, leaving Chelsea to die on the side of the road. Chelsea’s friends and family have not only kept the bike decorated with flowers but also have solar powered lights on the sidewalk and glittery stars hanging from the tree limbs. At night the solar lights look like a candle lit vigil.
A map of Ghost Bikes for cities around the world, not just Houston, can be found on the Ghost Bikes website below; a section of the Critical Mass Houston website is also devoted to Ghost Bike memorials.
Houston has made great advances in promoting bicycle commuters as the whole world has become more aware of conservation and health. Accidents will inevitably happen—and it shouldn’t take a Ghost Bike to remind us all to be more careful while sharing the road.