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Early this morning, 22 new ghost bikes appeared around the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, R and 20th Streets NW. There were put there by Columbia Heights resident Legba Carrefour, in an effort to protest the city's recent removal of the Alice Swanson ghost bike by the city. Alice's original ghost bike was placed in front of the La Tomate restaurant by the Washington Area Bicycle Association shortly after her death a little over a year ago, though WABA as an organization is not taking credit for this latest, much larger stunt.
Carrefour has started a blog in an attempt to explain his actions:
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're checking with the D.C. Department of Public Works to see how they plan to handle dealing with all these new bikes, and will update when they have an answer ready for us.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.
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seriously? i feel bad for alice, and her family and friends, but as has been said before, its just not feasible for the city to allow memorials (and permanent ones, at that) for every person that has been injured or killed in the city. and quite frankly, putting 20 bikes back on the street, and calling attention to it, is probably just going to piss this city off more, and hasten their removal. how about we take the money used to buy the bikes and spray paint and open an alice swanson memorial college fund? or better yet, a fund to buy inner city kids new bikes? what say you?
I couldn't agree more. There are more productive ways to memorialize someone. I personally hope that when the city gets pissed that they bill Legba Carrefour to haul away all of those bikes and cite him for dumping. He wants attention give it too him. Those ghost bikes are not going to create better drivers, bikers or pedestrians.
FREE BIKES!!! And they're already painted for you!!!
this fiasco is becoming less and less about Alice as time goes on...
As crass as my last comment was, I agree. Protests like this are a touch narcissistic and uneccessary.
Not only that, but they are counterproductive. By pissing off DDOT, which now has to go through the hassle of sending workers, a truck, and Monkey's gigantic manhood out to cut off not one but twenty new bikes, you are reduce the likelihood that DDOT will tolerate makeshift memorials for any duration. Look, I understand the point, but think about the impact it has on other people who may want to remember one of their friends/loved ones in a small way.
There's a fine line between "raising awareness" and exploitation. Has this line been crossed?
I think it's pretty close. Some of the lines in the blog post almost come off as though it's some sort of joke.
I just saw Legba's (real name?) picture on the City Paper website. Looks like a total hipster douche!
Wow... THAT was constructive...
You're right and I apologize. He doesn't look like a douche. He looks like a retarded monkey.
This Legba Carrefour is a piece of work:
"I've been arrested for other stuff. I got arrested in 2000 outside of the Supreme Court at a 'Free Abu-Jamal' rally. I lay down in the middle of a street and wouldn't get up . . . I got arrested at the IMF protests. And, obviously, I got arrested when I spray-painted . . . I've gotten arrested enough times, and part of me wants to go legit . . . The reason I get involved in some of the more confrontational stuff . . . for me there is a personal liberation that goes on . . . I get really pumped up. I definitely get an adrenaline rush off of it."
The last sentance sums it up....Its about all about him, the cause is an excuse.
Agreed. Clearly a head-case if you ask me. I get pumped up off doing things I know I shouldn't do too, but I have the good sense to put the greater good ahead of my own personal satisfaction at being a 'rebel'.
People who are a sellout to any cause they can find should be arrested for being stupid. If you're going to be a rebel, at least have a legitmate cause that you stick too; otherwise you just end up being the city fool.
He's indulging his own "anarchist...art" while hiding behind a tragic death. It's disrespectful and contemptible.
Yeah, that's a bit too militant for my taste. Why not put the effort and resources into getting a new bike lane, signage or bike rack dedicated in Alice's honor instead of wasting it on obtaining, painting and chaining up 22 bikes? Wouldn't those bikes have been better off refurbished and donated somewhere?
Why not put the effort and resources into getting a new bike lane, signage or bike rack dedicated in Alice's honor
Because navigating bureaucracy is never as satisfying as taking a dump on the sidewalk, putting a tiny American flag on it, and calling it "a bold statement about cultural hegemony."
+1 couldn't have said it better
This is just plain stupid, and really dilutes any argument for keeping a ghost bike there.
The city could have handled the original ghost bike removal better, but I hope they remove this set of bikes swiftly and without further explanation.
What a fucking asshole. I hope the city fines him and tosses his hipster ass in jail.
+1. Well said.
+1. Well said.
"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."
The worst part is, for a hipster doofus his snark is third-rate at best.
This project was carried by DC native, cyclist, and anarchist Legba Carrefour with the help of many generous people who donated bicycles, back yards, trucks, and time. Thank you all so much. Especially those of you who got up at 5:00am on a Thursday before work to haul the bicycles.
So this is basically Borf except with bikes, right?
Apparently. According to a DCist comment, he's a fan of Borf: http://dcist.com/2007/05/the_next_borfs.php#comment-1086238
Oh, those anarchists. They sure do hate the government until they need something like police or fire department protection. Or roads. Or traffic lights. Or trash pickup. Or sewage treatment.
Death to Government. Except for, you know, all the stuff I use every day whilst I pump out my Sweet Anarchy Today tweets.
Don't forget police protection. Anarchists are always the first to come screaming for the police whenever their bike gets "liberated," or when the cops beat them up at IMF protests.
this comment proves that monkey, hillman, and smithie07 know absolutely nothing about anarchy. might want to stop embarrassing yourselves with grand proclamations about anarchist politics until you do a little research.
Define your terms. Do you mean communist anarchism as advocated by Peter Kropotkin, or Debord-style Marxist-anarchism as practiced by the Situationist International?
Because they both suck.
@happy
BURN!!!
You crack me up. You must have taken the same course I did back in 1988. I think I still have a Kropotkin book up in the attic. Right next to the one by (Mikhail?) Bakunin.
Can we start a thread on the 11th Thesis on Feuerbach now?
this comments proves that monkey, smithie07 and hillman know nothing about anarchy. might want to stop embarrassing yourselves with grand proclamations before you do a little research on anarchist politics.
Dude, to my earlier post, I guarantee you I (and probably Monkey) have read more works on Anarchy, Marxism, Trotskyism, and utopian socialism than you ever will. It was all the rage at DC Universities in the late 80s. Seriously, if you want my books, you are welcome to them.
Who the hell is Happy? This is two days in a row that he has posted some asininely douchetastic comment. I have no problems with snarktasticness, but jesus, if you're going to call people out, at least give the basis for your claim. Otherwise, just shout YOU LIE and be done with it.
Who the hell is Happy? This is two days in a row that he has posted some asininely douchetastic comment. I have no problems with snarktasticness, but jesus, if you're going to call people out, at least give the basis for your claim. Otherwise, just shout YOU LIE and be done with it.
if you're referring to the logo comment, there was nothing snarky about it. it was a criticism which laid out exactly why I thought it was a weak solution.
regarding this thread, I take exception to people writing off anarchists with unfunny false examples. where's the snark, my friend?
nothing quite as "douchetastic" as the word "douchetastic".
Fair enough. How about a funny example?
The reason people write it off with snarky comments because after reading much on the topic and then asking "ok, then what?" and "exactly what will that look like?" I realized it was complete BS.
I did not say that your comment was snarky, I said that I understand snarky. I also said that your comment was douchetastic and asinine because it was unsupported. Unsupported = key. Again, read this shit before you retort. We'll thank you for it.
from legba's website/bloggie thing: "This project was carried by DC native, cyclist, and anarchist Legba Carrefour with the help of many generous people who donated bicycles, back yards, trucks, and time."
first, aren't "projects" rather anti-anarchy? and second, getting a whole crew of friends to get up "at 5:00am on a Thursday before work to haul the bicycles" smacks of organization. anarchist, my ass.
Naw, she's legit. You should see her sock drawer - a true representation of how compulsory government is unnecessary.
"And if it leaves again, we’ll put it back again. And again. And again."
Gah! He sounds just like the owner of Molly!™
Worse. She sounds like Steely Dan.
You go back jack do it again
Wheel turnin round and round
You go back jack do it again
Comment o' the Month
This act is ridiculous and juvenile. You can be self-righteous and narcissistic, that's why myspace is for, but fucking up the city and in a way making a mockery of the 'ghost bike' idea is really fricking annoying. I'm not opposed to ghost bikes, I think in some cities they are used in an appropriate way to remind both drivers and cyclists to be careful and aware.
As far as this dbag getting hit by a car twice, i have no doubt he's one of the idiots who brought it upon himself by riding like an ass.
All this hatred,
God forbid DC have "street art" aren't you always complaining about how bored you are in DC?
The bikes are not locked so you are free to add or subtract to/from their number as you see fit.
The article makes it clear that the bikes were donated and are too broken to make them worth the cost refurbishing. The paint was (obviously) applied with a brush.
All this hatred,
God forbid DC have "street art" aren't you always complaining about how bored you are in DC?
The bikes are not locked so you are free to add or subtract to/from their number as you see fit.
The article makes it clear that the bikes were donated and are too broken to make them worth the cost refurbishing. The paint was (obviously) applied with a brush.
We're not hating her. Just calling her out for hurting a legitimate cause by being selfish and trying to get noticed. It's more pity than anything else, which is probably worse in "her" eyes.
Oh, it isn't hatred of her, but hatred of the sheer stupidity behind the crazy amount of bikes she's put out on the streets. This isn't about Alice anymore; this is about trying to win over the "big bad government". Nor is this "street art".
And its not like removing the bikes "as you see fit" will do anything as they will be replaced again and again. I will reiterate previous comments when I say that this craps this up for everyone as now the city is going to crack down on all memorials, whether meant to be temporary or not. Not to mention this is a waste of the city's time in having to remove them when they could be doing something more productive. Maybe if the "statement" was made in a more positive and less douche-y way then I would actually want to pay attention, but this is too much.
Okay. You people are way off. First of all, Legba is a she, not a he, or at least she used to be. And second of all, if her Facebook page is any indication, she's worse than Hitler.
By the power vested in me by He-Man and the Great State of Confusion, I hereby invoke Godwin.
DDOT "tolerate" makeshift memorials? Please. DDOT ignores makeshift memorials until someone complains about them...repeatedly.
Given that the ones in my neighborhood run to empty liquor bottles and stuffed animals that get ratty after a few days, ghost bikes are a refreshing change.
Besides, DDOT should get off their asses and do something for my tax money 'cause they're certainly not maintaining the pavement.
They are in fact maintaining the pavement right outside my apartment and have been since 6AM.
Hey here's a constructive question: Are any of these bikes even breaking the law? As I understand it, we are permitted to chain bikes to lightposts. If that's so, than what's illegal about chaining 22 bikes to posts if none of them block the sidewalk? (I have yet to see a single photo of these bikes actually blocking the sidewalk.)
Seriously, I have a problem with DDOT allowing that blue bike frame next to the Dupont Metro elevator that has been completely stripped remain for nearly two years now while they remove a bike that was both a memorial and a protest. Seriously, wtf? That blue bike even had a tag on it for a while from DDOT that said it was about to be taken away. So: A: Why didn't the ghost bike get the same courtesy as a clearly abandoned bike, and B: Why is it that DDOT left the clearly abandoned bike and took away the ghost bike?
I for one am not saying that I approved of DDOT removing the memorial. But I do understand the reason. The least that they could have done was provide notice as it was clearly maintained. However this stunt is a stunt and instead of the one blue bike frame stripped and left to rust away there will now be 20 additional bikes stripped and left to rust. This is what is outrageous to me.
Seriously if folks want a permanent memorial to Alice Swanson then go through the proper channels. Its a pain in the ass and one must prove a dedicated funding source to maintain it but a trash truck will not come along and haul it away.
My sentiments exactly, Reid. What about that wheel-less teal beach cruiser that sat outside Kokopooli's for three years rusting away on one of the skinniest stretches of sidewalk in DC? And blocking the sidewalk! The horror!
As much as I don't care for Leggera Petitfours making a scene out of this, I do appreciate the scene that was created.
Ok maybe that doesn't make sense.
What kind of asshole "anarchist" pens his (her?) Nom de Guerre after a French Hypermart?
It's probably a voodoo reference. Papa Legba is one of the foremost voodoo spirits, and Mait' Carrefour, the master of crossroads and bringer of misfortune, is one of his less attractive aspects.
Man, between this and the explanation of Monkey's avatar, this is my week for lesser-known religious references. Tune in tomorrow, when I explain the connection between the Bull of Mithras and the Sacred Chao.
Jesus tits! Is there anything that someone here doesn't know?
I think those bikes are a lovely gesture. So much hatred here indeed. And just because you all don't have the balls to get out of your cubicles every once in a while. The activist did a very nice thing (whatever their motivations) and the response here is just rancor. Yikes. Go outside people, smell some flowers, lay in the grass. Your righteousness is overwhelming.
Well as much as I'd like to be an unemployed hippy activist taking on the world of "injustice"--reality dictates that I go out and work, earn a living, shower, and recognize that all civil issues vary in importance. Pragmatically speaking, this issue is not of that significant of importance to the greater whole to get so worked up over... Forgive me for feeling like it could have been handled in a far more respectable and civilized manner.
And who determines the relative importance of a particular issue? You? Different issues are important to different people. You are free to make memorials for all the "people who are brutally slain on the same streets." But you don't and you won't. But you will rise righteous indignation against those that take up causes that are important to them? Boo. Thumbs down.
Oh I'll be the first to admit it, I'd love to get out of my desk and work for a good cause; like Marriage Equality, proper and ethical treatment of the poor and sick, advancement of health care reform, etc. etc.
But let's be honest--unless you have a rich benefactor or enjoy living in a box outside of Five Guys--people have to work! In this area most of us have 9-5's so there just isn't much we can do about it.
So while I sit here on my lunch break, knowing I have to go back to work soon, some idiot is out plastering the city in bikes and completely destroying the little bit of momentum the cause may have had... Forgive me for thinking that to be extremely selfish and stupid; after all, what do I know, I'm employed and work to make government run... must be nice to be an unemployed hippy activist with no life...
The bike was there for A YEAR; that's far longer then any other victim of the streets of DC gets a memorial for! Ungrateful and selfish @$$holes; what about the people who are brutally slain on the same streets, why don't they get a year-long tribute and memorial? Why was this girl so special that she deserves such attention from the whole city? Unless you're going to erect a memorial for all deaths in DC--which would be impossible--I'd say just suck it up and move on! What you've just done now is taken the credibility your complaint might have had and thrown it down the drain... anyone connected with these placements should be fined for littering, illegal dumping, public neusence, and for the removal of the bikes! I should not have to pay through my taxes for a grudge harbored by some angry Columbia Heights debutant-wannabe's who clearly have nothing better to do and nothing better to spend their money on!
the fact is that ghost bikes raise awareness about transportation safety issues facing the city. hate all you want; they are a great thing.
I'm going to create a bunch of ghost WMATA track workers, ghost joggers, ghost jaywalkers with iPods, and ghost segway tourists....That'll get ME some notoriety AND raise some awareness about transportation safety issues
Well f**k! You didn't mention this was about "awareness." Because I had no f**king idea that riding a bike in DC was dangerous, they give drivers licenses to any f**king idiot who walks through the door, or that crossing the street against the light rocking out to Foghat may result in dozens of "ghost monkeys" appearing on traffic lights around town.
ha ha ha
Why you gotta go hating on awareness? Do you think Willie Nelson puts on the New Awareness Awards every year for a joke?
"Are any of these bikes even breaking the law?"
It appears, actually, that all of them are.
http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit09/summit_faqs.php
Q. Where can I park my bike on the Hill? Downtown?
A. ... You are allowed to lock your bike to any pole, as long as you don't impede traffic or pedestrians. There are a few bike racks, or you can lock to any parking meter. It is illegal to park within 25 feet of an intersection or in a bus stop.
While "impeding pedestrians" is probably hard to define, I would consider the bike pictured front and center in the Greater Greater Washington post to be "impeding pedestrians" as it blocks access to a crosswalk.
Every single one of them looks like it's within 25 feet on an intersection.
More info on bike parking:
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/frames.asp?doc=/ddot/lib/ddot/information/bicycle/laws/18_dcmr_12.pdf
"A person may secure a bicycle to a stanchion for a period of not more than twelve (12) consecutive hours, by means of a lock or similar device, in accordance with the requirements of §1209.2."
"No person shall secure a bicycle to any of the following publicly-owned facilities:
(a) Fire hydrants;
(b) Police and fire call boxes;
(c) Electric traffic signal poles;
(d) Stanchions or poles located within bus zones or stands;
(e) Stanchions or poles located within twenty-five feet (25 ft.) of an intersection;
(f) Trees under ten inches (10 in.) in diameter."
Yes, Virginia, they are clearly illegal.
From the description of the bikes, I don't think 18 DCMR 1209 applies: apparently, they're not "secured" to anything. So it sounds like it is within the bounds of the law, and anyone wanting to score a free bike, like drr1971, can leave the tools at home.
I suppose you could work up a littering case if you really tried, though.
I'm sorry, I have to ask. Was Alice Swanson the only bicyclist EVER to have been struck and killed by a truck on a DC street?
Oh, she was? Carry on then.
Please elaborate how they raise awareness?
IME they create rubber necking and clusters of confused tourists. Actually educating people goes a lot further than street art.
was this a serious question?
Yes. I tried searching on line how a memorial or street art (for lack of a better descriptor) raises the awareness of any issue. I found no substantive evidence. Granted I did a quick search on my lunch break. It would be interesting to hear from an ER or urgent care worker to see if they saw fewer bike related accidents after the memorial went up. I cannot see how a memorial replaces education.
DCist is certainly starting their fifth year birthday off right. This story has it all: bike haters, bureaucrat haters, attention-whore haters, albino predators, Borf, street art, Hitler, Bakunin, Steely Dan. Throw in a Northwest theremin band and some rockthrowing teens and you have the feelgood movie of the summer.
Working title: Retarded Monkey Ghost Bike Anarchist Sex Carnival (An Alan Smithee Joint).
ha ha Borf...man 2004 was awesome
Molly?
Maybe!
With a soundtrack by Blelvis!
All we need now is a threatened junk punching.
The fast food options, especially w/r/t pizza, are far superior in the region of the country that I hail from when compared to DC. I am willing to argue about this at length.
Some branch of government is forcing an incorrect understanding of the Second Amendment on us.
Affluent caucasians may be found in crowded Georgetown clubs. Their inebriated attempts at seduction elicit chortles and guffaws by those not of their financial bracket. Discuss.
I understand the impetus for replacing the ghost bike, but isn't placing 22 of them a bit much? That pretty much guarantees that they will come back down.
Alice Swanson was 22 when she was killed. Hence the 22 bikes.
There's also the matter of, if 1 bike gets attention, 22 will get that much more attention. This theory of greater-mass-equals-greater-attention also works with retardedly fat booties. This is an indisputable fact. Take the average Black man and ask him that. She gotta pack much back. So fellas, fellas, has your girlfriend got the butt? Tell 'em shake it, shake it, shake that healthy butt. Baby got back.
Anyone want to grab some tools and head out there to remove some of these stupid bikes?
Just when I thought I lived in a progressive city...Did someone really just bust out the DC Municipal Regulations Handbook? Is someone talking about the "greater good"? What the hell is this, communist China? Or is everyone here the head of a suburban cul de sac neighborhood association?
Oh, I get it. This is what happens when you cut back on arts education in high schools.
I am usually all for this stuff, but its the cause I am having a problem with. There is a lot of dying in this town, to devote so much effort and to get all "fight the man" over bike usage is just silly and just reeks of self-absorbed a-holism.
So why don't you get out and fight for those causes and let other people fight the fights they choose?
Yeah, you are probably right. I take it back
I suppose that depends on your definition of "progressive." We're not really the artsy, protesting kind of progressives. We're more the kind who hope that through our work we can have a positive effect on the world around us. You know, by being productive rather than by sitting down on the ground and screaming like a 2-yr old when things don't go our way.
That, or we're just a bunch of joyless bureaucrats. Tomayto/Tomahto.
Well, that sounds more self-righteous than progressive to me. We can't all fight for YOUR causes. We define our own causes and then do what we can. You don't get to tell other people what is a good cause and what is a bad cause.
Hi, Pot? Nice to meet you, I'm Kettle.
By the way, I don't think most of the people commenting here have said much about the "cause" one way or the other. What we're talking about is the means of advancing the cause. Related, yes, but not the same thing.
By the way, what exactly IS the cause you're fighting for? Because that's not clear to me. Also, how does this stunt advance whatever your cause is?
I dont have one. A couple of people have said that there are so many other people dying, why is this one so special. That was my response to that. I for one don't care, which is why I don't go around town memorializing the dead. And it's also why I don't go around blogs flinging vitriol at people who take up a noble cause, however superfluous one may think it is.
Memorializing someone who was run over by a truck? That is a really nice thing to do. Did the activist have ulterior motives? Who cares?!?!?!
As Mike Debonis pointed out over on the City Paper:
"As a bicyclist, my biggest concern is that these bikes are occupying lots of parking spots in an area with few of them."
Good point, not to mention impeding pedestrians and blocking wheelchair access! I think ONE ghost bike is sufficient.
None of the bikes that I saw this morning were chained or secured at all. They were all just leaning against poles and such. None seemed to be blocking the sidewalk; they appeared to be placed on the "street side" of the poles for better visibility.
They're also all hideous. At least the original ghost bike was made with some care. These pieces of junk with patches of white paint are hardly a fitting memorial for anyone. Clearly this is more about Legba Carrefour's ego than about remembering Alice Swanson.
Actually, some of the bikes are chained. Just look at the photos above and you will see quite clearly that some are chained to city property.
All of those not chained violate Title 24, use of public space, because the proper permits were not obtained.
Alice who?
So, someone defending the installation asks, "Here's a constructive question: are these even breaking the law?"
I answer that question in the only way possible, by actually citing the law.
I really don't see the problem here.
I guess in your definition of a "progressive city" nobody gives a crap about laws. I can recommend some progressive cities: Baghdad and Kabul come to mind.
monkeyrotica, when you look back on your life, are you going to be totally pleased that you spent years of your life in irrelevant anonymous debates making countless unfunny comments on a local blog? seriously, I think it's weird.
happy: and the fact that you got one marginal dig in on him will haunt you even more on your deathbed.
sucks, don't it?
oh yeah. spot on, buddy.
monkeyrotica, when you look back on your life, are you going to be totally pleased that you spent years of your life in irrelevant pseudonymous debates making countless unfunny comments on a local blog?
Fixed. Don't confuse Monkey with some merely anonymous poop-flinging-trebuchet-armed cretin.
As opposed to bike littering?
If his comments fail to put a smile on your face, perhaps you aren't as happy as your name suggests.
Happy - You are right. on. my. man! Up until you say, "when you look back on your life..."
c'mon! why is everyone letting a delightful bike-related thread be brought down by mudslinging?!
Happy - welcome to DCist's little corner of the internet, glad you could join us just in time to offer us your thoughtful opinions on design and anarchy. Perhaps this summer has been pretty rough for you, what with the art school degree not panning out as you had planned. Not to worry, though! If you give it more than two days and replace the morning PBR with some mouthwash (I recommend ACT, helps prevent the sh*& from reforming in your mouth), you'll see we're all pretty accepting people.
*group hug*
c'mon! why is everyone letting a delightful bike-related thread be brought down by mudslinging?!
Happy - welcome to DCist's little corner of the internet, glad you could join us just in time to offer us your thoughtful opinions on design and anarchy. Perhaps this summer has been pretty rough for you, what with the art school degree not panning out as you had planned. Not to worry, though! If you give it more than two days and replace the morning PBR with some mouthwash (I recommend ACT, helps prevent the sh*& from reforming in your mouth), you'll see we're all pretty accepting people.
*group hug*
Also, comment tip: if your comment doesn't load, just be patient or you'll end up comment-stuttering
Wait, you're not still peeved about m-e making you his little bitch, are you?
C'mon! That was some funny shit, son!
I wish this jackass would not leave his trash all over the city.
There's a word for this sort of activity: littering.
I hope he gets fined for 20 instances of violating the littering ordinance.
A real progressive city would have a GhostMolly! outside the Whole Foods.
Here's a question for those of you defending this art installation/act of civil disobedience/whatever: now that you have "raised awareness" (at least among the commentariate of DCist, GGW, and PoP), what do you intend to do with it? Because I'm not quite sure what the benefit is of raising awareness if some positive action doesn't follow.
Even if DC leaves these bikes up, within a few days we'll all quiet down about it. People passing by might think about the reason they're there occassionally, but eventually they will become part of the streetscape (as the original ghost bike did). So what's next?
Legba Carrefour updates his resume, and begins work on Ghost Gangsta. It's a citywide sculpture involving 945 empty bottles of Colt 45, one for each shot fired in DC this month.
Space Ghost, Coast-to-Coast. that is all
ALL HAIL BRAK!
How come we don't have any really good direct action in the city any more. I am talking CCNV releasing cockroaches in the White House type of stuff. Now THAT was inspired.
And 100, We Have a Hall of Fame Nominee!!!!!!
I'm okay with this. It's good public art ~ didn't cost me one red cent, it's a striking display, it's provoked useful conversation.
A lot of folks assume that the artist in this situation was motivated more by self-promotion than anything else. Why is that? I've read the GGW post, the City Paper story, and Carrefour's blog and don't see support for that assumption. Is it the scale of the project? The fact that Carrefour started the blog?
It's unfortunate that some of the discussion has been polarized over this issue. Surely there's a way to leave this tangential issue aside, and focus the dialog on what drivers and cyclists can each do to safely co-exist.
We went through his yesterday except the players were pedestrians and buses. I believe that the consensus was that we all want others to obey the laws while we flaunt them.
Living is dangerous business. There are careful people and reckless people and a vast spectrum in between. These bikes do not make people any more careful or any less reckless.
These bikes do not make people any more careful or any less reckless.
Where's your proof? I did a 2 minute search, and found proof to the contrary: http://mobikefed.org/2007/10/first-press-coverage-of-ghost-bike.php
"No one keeps statistics on the number of bicycle accidents in the area each year, but Bob Foster of the St. Louis Bicycle Federation said the number was "surely in the scores.""
This is from the link provided which contains no empirical data, i.e., proof, or citation of empirical data. I stand by my opinion that these ghost bikes do not have an effect on people's personal habits.
I see daily the same foolish moves by cyclists and the same foolish moves by cars, trucks and buses as I did before the tragic accident that killed Ms. Swanson. I cited earlier that I could not find data on this topic and I still cannot. Perhaps it would benefit bicycle activist organizations to sponsor a study actually documenting the number and severity of bicycle v motor vehicle accidents.
"Your righteousness is overwhelming."
I'm often moved to tears by my own righteousness.
Honestly, folks. Could we make this crap up? Are we not sure we aren't actually being punked here?
I haven't seen Deep post on here for a while -- who is up for erecting a ghost CHUD in Chinatown?
I'll re-route traffic while you pry open the manhole and lower the plaster cast CHUD into the sewer. I usually don't get out til 5:30, but I'll come in early tomorrow so we can get this done around 4:45/5pm and still have the rest of the evening to blog about it.
Do we need a permit for that?
No, but you do need to enter into a Voluntary Agreement with the local ANC that the plaster CHUD will not serve alcohol after midnight on weekends nor will it play go-go music. You enter into this agreement under no coercion from the ANC, but your CHUD liquor license will contain severe restrictions limiting it to sales of beer, .01% Saurian brandy, and toilet-brewed prison wine.
Ghost Mama CHUD Chinatown Sue is a mouthful. Maybe we could do a ghost PIGMAN instead. It's easier to say.
Legba is awesome you all are scrubs
I don't want no scrubs.
A scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me.
The new display is an example of why "awareness" alone is useless and why the trope that "all publicity is positive" is simply wrong.
I remember reading about studies that ad hoc roadside memorials often worsen the safety of the section of roadway where they're located, as they provide one more distraction to drivers' attention.
I don't care for such memorials no matter where they are nor what the content, as they feel to me like a cheapening of the memory of the decedent, implying that their life was only worth memorializing through some random trash thrown together.
Dear DCist Commenters,
1. Rationalizing why this ineffective is probably little comfort against the emptiness of your work-a-day lives.
2. Derision for derision’s sake, is not the same as whit or genuine insight. Not that you would know either, if they crawled up your leg, and bit you in the nethers.
3. Looking down on others is easy when you don’t have to account for your own actions (or lack there of). It is safe to assume Legba in this act has done far more than most of you have ever have done, or will do.
My advice to all of you is, tonight go back to Arlington or Glen Bernie, crank up some 3rd Eye Blind and pour happy hour margaritas through you haggard rictus until the taste of loneliness and shame subside. Tomorrow proceed straight to brunch, with whomever you dragged in to your tacky Ikea/UO strewn nest the night before. Make awkward small talk for an hour and try and pretend you are more than a waste of skin. That should take the edge off things just a bit.
Love,
Ringer
Dear Ringer: registering to make one scathing comment about the commenters here is even more sad than our supposed suburban, 3rd-eye-blind-loving lives.
And I think you mean "wit", not "whit."
What a vile, hateful person you are! I thought hipsters were supposed to be all nice and peaceful...like hippies. You’re like the Charlie Manson of hipsters. Please seek therapy and mass quantities of psychotropic drugs.
"It is safe to assume Legba in this act has done far more than most of you have ever have done, or will do. "
Spoken like someone who knows their little corner of the world well, but little about anything else.
It's Glen Burnie, not Glen Bernie. It's also a suburb of Baltimore, not DC. I doubt there are a lot of people from Glen Burnie commenting here. If you're going to make fun of people, it is more effective if you don't reveal your complete ignorance in the process.
Well, back to my empty life. I sure wish I had a large glass of 16-year old Glenburnie to comfort me.
well, I don't like 3rd eye blind OR brunch......but sadly, otherwise, you are SPOT on......oh, the ignominy!!!
Legba Carrefour is a selfish asshole
Some many self involved pseudo intellectuals out there have so much to say on this topic yet have never been hit by a car on their bike. You can reference all the texts you read in in grad school to intimidate people away from how they feel about this topic (& to prove to yourself how righteous and worldy every word from your mouth is) but what about the cyclists? It's about safety on the streets, not your emotional response to narcissist's stunt Play-Dough project.
I live in San Francisco
I've known a few bike messanger's in my time.
The first thing I noticed when I looked at the front pic...
The address....
666
"Want me to get mideviel on your a**"
comes to mind.
I think one of those bikes was stolen from me at Union Station last summer.