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Courtesy Eric Gilliland
The D.C. Department of Public Works finally got back to us on our question about what will be done with the 22 brand new ghost bikes that have been placed around the intersection of Connecticut and R Streets NW by activist Legba Carrefour ... kinda. Here's the boilerplate statement we received via email from DPW spokesperson Linda Grant:
"... the DC Department of Public Works is responsible for removing sidewalk memorials, which usually recognize residents who have died unexpectedly, and includes anything from flowers and stuffed animals to empty bottles of alcohol and bicycles. After 30 days, DPW removes all memorial items found at the site. As part of our policy, a sign is posted at the memorial to notify family and friends that they have 30 days to remove any personal effects."
This is a bit of a bogus response. The original Alice Swanson ghost bike was allowed to remain where it was for over a year before DPW removed it, so there are clearly exceptions to this 30 day rule. But what are they, and how are they applied? Not to mention, these 22 ghost bikes could very easily be interpreted as not being memorials to Alice Swanson, but rather protest art pieces to the action of city government in removing the original bike. Could not then DPW use that definition as a pretense to remove the new crop of bikes before 30 days is up?
DPW also returned our phone call this morning with an email late this afternoon, and sent the exact same statement to other news outlets, so we're not exactly holding our breath on a clearer explanation to result from our follow up questions, but we'll be sure to keep you posted.
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As a bike commuter,frequent rider, and like most others a veteran of bicycle accidents, deaths like that of Alice Swanson hit me close to home. However, I don't see why Ms Swanson's memorial should receive different treatment than that of others.
I have walked past more than one memorial for others who were killed -- shooting victims. These memorials are indeed removed after 30 days.
What about Alice Swanson and/or her memorial makes it worthy of staying for eternity while others do not?
who gives a shit
Indeed. People leave crap on the street; city removes it eventually.
Ghost bikes are allowed to stay in place for 30 days, then they will run red lights and flip off cabbies all the way home.
So how long was the initial memorial up. A YEAR? Thirty days is a loosy-goosey ballpark of a theory wrapped in warm fuzzies, even if it is in a regulation. Piss them off, however, and the regulation becomes fact.
"The original Alice Swanson ghost bike was allowed to remain where it was for over a year before DPW removed it, so there are clearly exceptions to this 30 day rule."
Ummmm, like DPW not noticing or a year and then removing it once they realized it was there? This is the DC gov not some well-oiled machine. Why rush to the conclusion that there is some coordinated effort against bike memorials out there? The 30 day rule seems perfectly sensible to me. If you want a more permanent memorial petition your elected officials; who gives anyone else the right to erect a permanent memorail on public property?
Can we all just go over there and take the bikes ourselves? Thus solving the problem and also giving me a free bike? Also saves DDOT the time and effort of doing it.
"Not to mention, these 22 ghost bikes could very easily be interpreted as not being memorials to Alice Swanson, but rather protest art pieces to the action of city government in removing the original bike. Could not then DPW use that definition as a pretense to remove the new crop of bikes before 30 days is up?"
Uh, I bet DPW's policy on removing "protest art" is exactly like its policy for removing "memorials," which is "30 days or whenever we get around to it."
Stick a fork in those bikes and be done with it!
Get back on the forklift Liz.
What a total wast of friggin' time all this crap is. If everyone who gave a crap about this ghost garbage (it is NOT art) that is being left on the sidewalks actually went out and did something with thier life, maybe the world would be a better place. Me...I'm going to walk around Dupont Circle and clean it up. Any ghost bike I see will be removed and tossed in the nearest dumpster. problem solved and DC is now cleaner for it.
I consider it littering their old, rusted bikes on the sidewalks of DC. Legba needs to be fined for littering 22 bikes.
Art fascists! Or is it Nazis?
LISTEN UP!!! drr1971 determines what is art in this town!
All day you have been fast and loose with inappropriate snarky comments towards those whose opinion differs from yours. Take a chill and engage in a dialog rather than alienating comments. drr1971 was expressing an opinion not decreeing what is or isn't art in this town.
No....actually he is part right. I DO determine what is NOT art. And I do hereby declare that those stupid bikes are NOT art; they are garbage poorly painted white and left as litter on the streets of DC. I also do declare that "somethingorother" is a douche bag (determining who is a douche bag is also in my job description).
No....actually he is part right. I DO determine what is NOT art. And I do hereby declare that those stupid bikes are NOT art; they are garbage poorly painted white and left as litter on the streets of DC. I also do declare that "somethingorother" is a douche bag (determining who is a douche bag is also in my job description).
2 things
1) netiquette; I know it sounds lame, but really people, did you just join the interweb yesterday?!?
2) Having spent time in a few more vibrant cities (DC might be international, but only in an obtuse way), the ghost bike phenomena, street art, break dancers, etc, actually make for a more interesting place to live. Is it always convenient or law-abiding? meh, not really. But if there is one thing I've recognized in my time in DC so far, it's that white collar stiffs aren't only at the intersection of North Capitol, South Capitol and East Capitol...they're everywhere.
3)Ok, #3, so sue me...there are a lot of people who misunderstand art, both on the "art is a pretty painting" side and on the "art is whatever shit comes out of my warped mind + a dumpster" side. The great thing about impromptu street art is that it forces you to think. Anyone who puts over-wrought philosophical rubbish in a museum, as well as anyone who simply hangs pretty colors ooh look at that mommy "art" in the public sphere are guilty of mistaking form for purpose and philosophy for craft.
There, finally, I said my peace...alright who needs a late night drink?
The great thing about impromptu street art is that it forces you to think.
Would that this were true. Unfortunately, my experience has been that impromptu street art generates more heat than light. Reactions tend to be from the gut, not the mind. It's either "that sucks" or "that's cool." This also seems the case with state sanctioned public art, where people seem more concerned with how much was spent on the art itself versus what the artist is trying to say.
The fundamental problem with street art with a "message" is that like all art with a message, that message can be written on the head of a pin. When you have a memorial that intersects with art that tries to "enlighten," you end up with comment threads on DCist with 100+ posts that are more enlightening than the art that's being critiqued.
Did I just eviscerate my own argument? Forget everything I just said.
It only sounds snarky because it's true!
I miss the heady days when Molly was missing.
[snippy] If everyone… actually went out and did something with thier life… [end snippy]
Yeah, like learn how to spell, or maybe even figure out how to use that Spellcheck button on the magic computer box. Or even [gasp] have some patience so you don't double post. I see the sun breaking through the clouds already.
it's amusing that everyone looses it over a bunch of spray-painted bikes. Imagine doing this in Holland or Copenhagen. hardly anyone would notice.... spray painted bikes everywhere, and more of them appear every time you remove them.... yeah - that's status quo!
today lots of bikes = protest
tomorrow it's status quo.
if you see 22 people riding bikes together in the street, the police would call that a protest. In copenhagen, it would be status quo. how did it get that way? they had lots of protests!
hey, suburbia and the interstate highway system all exist because motorists protested for better investment in roads, which ironically started with bicycle clubs. so I wouldn't underextimate the effectiveness of these campagins.
protest, like art, is a means to challenge the way you think about things. Ghosts are something you imagine. You can imagine the past - but you can also imagine the future... what was, and what can be.
It's a war of ideas.
If someone is riding their bike, hits one of these ghost bikes, and dies, does that mean that 22 more ghost bikes pop up in that one ghost bike's place?