Update: 22 ghost bikes where original bike was removed

September 10, 9:48 AMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

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Greater Greater Washington reports the presence of 22 ghost bikes at the intersection where Alice Swanson was killed in 2008.

Swanson's original memorial was removed last month. (And DDOT put up a sign at the intersection warning motorists to be cautious.) The bike was removed by the city without warning Swanson's family and friends, or allowing a service for its removal. The bike was later located at a nearby Cosi where it was unceremoniously dumped.

The 22 bikes symbolizes Swanson's 22 years of life, and, at Alice Rides Again, Legba Carrefour writes:

We assume the ghost bike’s removal was some sort of simple error on the part of the Mayor’s office. Possibly, they mistook the bike for an escaped white lion. In that event, we salute the Mayor’s office for its continued vigilance in the fight against rare albino predators. But whatever the reason, we’ve decided to fix the problem and put the bike back in its rightful place.

We hope this brings a little warmth to the family and friends of Alice Swanson. We hope this will help work towards safer streets for cyclists. We hope this forces the city government to see public space as something for public use. But the one thing we’re not hoping for is for the Mayor’s office to put the bike back. We put it back. And if it leaves again, we’ll put it back again. And again. And again.

I admire the work from Carrefour, and I find the resolve to install 22 bikes, and the promise of constant upkeep touching and courageous. (I also adore the sense of humor—as someone who makes jokes at her own misfortune regularly, I still think it must be incredibly difficult to laugh, even a little bit, about the situation, but the biting humor at the city's misstep is truly great.)

The bike's initial removal was credited to complaints from area business. If one white bike was allegedly capable of bringing down morale and foot traffic (which, honestly, I find hard to believe), I imagine 22 bikes will have a significantly larger impact.

Anyway. Awesome work!

(Yes, the sign is important, even if it's not posted in the right place.)

Update! Washington City Paper has been reporting about the new bikes all morning. Andrew Beaujon has a great article about Carrefour.

Update Two! And look at Darrow Montgomery's photographs as well. (Mr. Montgomery, do you need an intern or assistant?)!