A “ghost bike” in England (click image to enlarge). Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
The swift removal of a “ghost bike” in memory of a bicyclist killed in an accident on Virginia Road came as a surprise to some residents as well as the man who put it there. For public safety reasons, Lincoln police removed the ghost bike that had been attached to a stop sign near the spot where Westford bicyclist Mark Himelfarb died on August 17—though they will briefly permit another ghost bike at a different location in September.
“Ghost bikes” are old bicycles that are stripped down, spray-painted white, and locked to a sign or parking meter close to the site of a fatal bike accident. The bikes are usually installed anonymously by a fellow cyclist, though members of the bicycling community sometimes hold ceremonies at ghost bike sites to commemorate the dead cyclist, as described in the Boston Globe on June 30. The first ghost bike appeared in St. Louis in 2003 and the movement has spread internationally as a way to raise awareness about bicycle safety and sharing the road.
The Virginia Road ghost bike was installed by Concord resident Erik Limpaecher, according to an August 23 Globe article. The bike was attached to the stop sign along with a placard reading “M. Himelfarb, father of 2, 8-17-2016, Come to Full Stop.”
“I didn’t expect it to be taken down within hours,” Limpaecher told the Globe. “It was really disappointing… I assume they [took it down] because of some interpretation of the town’s laws. But I would hope that they would have empathy for the family of the cyclist, and for the cycling community.”
The ghost bike was removed mainly because of its location, where it was a distraction to drivers and ironically might pose a safety hazard, according to Town Administrator Tim Higgins. When police remove the bike, they didn’t know who had put it there, but Limpaecher, who did not request guidance or permission from the town about his idea, subsequently came forward and requested return of the bike, Higgins said.
“We understand that well-intentioned people may want to pay tribute to the deceased and may want to call attention to the tragedy in the hope of raising awareness and urging greater caution,” Higgins said. In a case like this, “we work closely with the family and attempt to be as accommodating as possible while being mindful of the need not to permit roadside memorials that may distract drivers and cyclists, or obstruct sight distances in a manner that may inadvertently make conditions less safe. The stop sign chosen as the location for the ‘ghost bike’ is at the corner of a heavily traveled intersection where the roadways meet at a sharp angle; a more inappropriate location could not have been chosen.”
While there is no specific town regulation governing this sort of situation, “it’s a public right of way and it’s the town’s responsibility to maintain it clear of obstructions,” Higgins added. “Things are not as simple as they may first appear, and town officials are generally thoughtful in trying to balance the interests of all of the parties out of respect for the people involved, but this well-intentioned person preempted that.”
Ghost bike for earlier victim
Himelfarb, 59, was the second person to die while bicycling in Lincoln this summer. Wayland resident Eugene Thornberg, 61, was fatally struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Routes 117 and 126 on June 16. According to a news item posted by the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike), a bicyclist advocacy group, a ghost bike memorial service hosted by Thornberg’s family is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. at the accident site. Lincoln police will close the roads in the immediate area for the service and allow the ghost bike to remain on site for the rest of that weekend, according to a web post by Richard Fries, executive director of MassBike.
Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Ghost bikes are often removed after a period of time, including one in memory of 18-year-old cyclist Fritz Philogene, who was killed in Dorchester last year. “Rumor was that his family, who lives nearby, had it removed because it’s a harsh reminder for the family when they pass the intersection,” said Peter Cheung, a member of a group that helps others make ghost bikes and plan memorial events. Cheung, who also leads the monthly Boston Bike Party ride, said his group was not involved in either Lincoln ghost bike installation.
“I have an emotional reaction to [ghost bikes] as a cyclist and find them a very poignant memorial and an effective reminder to drive consciously. There is much misconception about the rights of cyclists on public roadways,” said Lincoln resident John Mendelson, a cyclist who posted the August 23 Globe article on the LincolnTalk email list, sparking a range of reactions from residents.
Now that Lincoln officials know Limpaecher’s identity, “we will attempt to come up with an approach [for a memorial] that respects the interests of all parties, including those of the family of the deceased and those of the traveling public,” Higgins said.