Results tagged “aliceswanson”

City workers on Friday collected and removed what remained of the 22 "ghost bikes" that had been placed around Connecticut and R Streets, the Post is reporting, including the locked-up bike that was put in the spot where the original memorial to Alice Swanson was located. Activist Legba Carrefour, the Columbia Heights resident behind the bikes, had pledged to ensure that the single memorial bike was replaced each time the city removed it, and he says he plans to keep his word. It just might take him a couple days.

Head over to why.i.hate.dc for a photo and update on the 22 ghost bikes that were placed all around the intersection of Connecticut and R NW a week ago. Looks like someone decided to let activist Legba Carrefour know they aren't fond of his bikes.

All of the remaining ghost bikes near Connecticut and R have been piled up at two locations, outside of the Cosi and at the site of the original ghost bike. It's a mess, and the pile near the Cosi is blocking the crosswalk. It appears as though some of the bikes that had been locked are in the pile or missing, as well. It's unclear who may have done this, but I would imagine DPW will be removing the bikes very soon given the state of the street. I urge Legba Carrefour or the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to clean this up as soon as possible. This is no longer a tribute to Alice Swanson or bicycle safety.

Indeed, a sad pile of bikes is surely not what anyone who was upset about the removal of the original bike wanted to see instead.

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?

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.

City Desk got the scoop on Friday that the ghost bike memorial for Alice Swanson -- who was killed over a year ago after she was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Connecticut and R Street NW -- had been removed by the D.C. Department of Public Works.

The WashCycle and other area cyclists have organized a D.C. version of the Ride of Silence, an international event that pays tribute to cyclists who have been killed or injured while riding on public roadways, tonight.

In the week since Alice Swanson was tragically killed riding her bike through Dupont Circle, there has been the usual back-and-forth between aggravated cyclists and aggrieved drivers. Cyclists accuse drivers of being two-ton road menaces, while drivers fire back by relaying long-worn tales of cyclists recklessly flying through red lights.

On the blocks around Dupont Circle yesterday evening, there were more bikes than usual for a standard evening commute. Their point of convergence was the corner of 20th and R Streets NW, adjacent to the outdoor diners at La Tomate, most of whom looked on in some confusion as the crowd continued to gather at the corner, and members of the press set up microphones at the Washington Area Bicyclist’s Association’s podium. Organizers reminded the growing group to keep the walkways clear for pedestrians as volunteers handed out packets containing a bicycle safety book and a pocket guide to D.C.’s bike laws, the packets adorned with a small white ribbon as a reminder of the reason everyone was there.

Flickr contributor vassieux snapped this shot of the "ghost bike" for Alice Swanson, who was killed Tuesday morning while riding her bike north of Dupont Circle. WABA is holding a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. to draw attention to bike safety issues and call for a full investigation into Swanson's death.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has just announced a press conference for this evening on the death of bicyclist Alice Swanson. Swanson was killed by a garbage truck just before 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning.