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.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the cyclist association will install a “ghost bike” at the intersection of Connecticut Ave and Q R Street NW, near the spot where 22-year-old Swanson died, in an effort to highlight the need for better bicycle safety and driver education efforts in the D.C. region. WABA describes a “ghost bike” thusly:
Ghost bikes are somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle which has been painted white will be locked to a street sign near the crash site to serve as a reminder of the tragedy and as a quiet statement in support of cyclists’ right to safe travel. Cyclists and others who attend the ceremony are encouraged to bring bike lights and flowers.
You can read more about ghost bikes in other cities at ghostbike.org. The organization hopes this “ghost bike” will send a message to the Metropolitan Police Department to conduct a full investigation into Swanson’s death.
“All too often drivers are let off the hook when their negligence leads to serious injury or death of a cyclist or pedestrian,” said Eric Gilliland, WABA’s executive director. “’I didn’t see them’ is too often accepted as an excuse that results in a small fine or no punishment at all. While we cannot comment on the particulars of this case, we expect the Metropolitan Police Department to conduct a thorough examination of this crash and hold the driver fully responsible if he was at fault.”
UPDATE: To clarify, the “ghost bike” installation this evening will be happening at the intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Q Street NW, although Swanson died at 20th and 20th and R, right next to Connecticut Ave.
UPDATE II: WABA’s original press release contained a typo. The “ghost bike” will be at 20th and R, and we’ve heard it may already be there in advance of the 6:30 p.m. ceremony.
Photo courtesy ghostbike.org
