When One Became 22: Local Activist Brings Ghost Bikes to Dupont Circle for Alice Swanson
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ALICE SWANSON. Ask any cyclist in the D.C. area and they'll know her story.
On July 8, 2008, the 22-year-old was struck and killed by a garbage truck while commuting to her job at the International Research & Exchanges Board via bicycle. Over the last year, Swanson has evolved into a symbol of cycling safety in the city. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association placed a bike painted white — called a ghost bike — at the scene of Swanson's crash (Connecticut and R streets NW) as a memorial and reminder for others on the road.
On Aug. 28, the Department of Public Works removed the bike. Speculation swirled that nearby businesses had considered it unsightly.
Now, the ghost bike is back — and it's brought friends. The bikes were unloaded this morning by Legba Carrefour, a 27-year-old Columbia Heights resident, who says their number is significant.
"[Swanson] was 22 when she was hit," he explained. "So we're putting out one bike for each year of her life."
Carrefour said news of the original bike's removal was what spurred him to action.
"It was a really long process of combing through trash cans, dumps and begging people on the Internet," he said. All in all, he estimates that tracking down and painting the bikes took 30 hours last week. Each bike will also be decorated with ribbons and flowers.
Carrefour didn't know Swanson, but by doing this he says hopes to bring joy to her friends and family, while drawing attention to cycling safety.
"Fundamentally, people don't understand bicycles are supposed to ride on the street," he said. "I was on Georgia Avenue a month ago and some dude seriously threatened to shoot me for riding my bike in the road. That's absurd. The amount of general abuse heaped on you by drivers is nuts."
You can follow the rest of story at his new blog: Alice Swanson Rides Again, where he plans to post updates about his cause.
Photos courtesy Eric Gilliland, Ben West
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When One Became 22: Local Activist Brings Ghost Bikes to Dupont Circle for Alice Swanson
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Addison Road
True bike's are supposed to ride in the street, but for every biker who invokes their rights, how many of those do you see running red lights and otherwise disobeying the same traffic laws they are supposed to be following?
What are the laws on that bike being placed there and henceforth removed?
By But Then Again , Posted September 10, 2009 3:54 PMWhat are you saying? Since some run through lights, that means all cyclists deserve to get run over??And by the way, this is about memorializing a young woman who was travelling in a bike lane, obeying traffic rules when she was killed.
By Vegan Cyclist , Posted September 10, 2009 6:14 PMJust saw another cyclist get hit today. He was also obeying the rules. Luckily he lived.
By Kris Coronado , Posted September 10, 2009 6:17 PMhttp://twitpic.com/h87f8
BTA seems to enjoy the blame the victim game. Because obviously the actions of others mean cyclists should die. Does this mean that because motorists run stop signs, don't use turn signals and speed all the time that they too are now "legal game" and I can hunt them at will?
By Duncan Watson , Posted September 10, 2009 10:22 PMThere's a fundamental difference between a cyclist running a light (when there's no oncoming traffic) and a car being used as a deadly weapon, intentionally or not. A car can kill a cyclist, a bicycle cannot kill a motorist. There are many people that have become aware of the issue of bike safety because of the ghost bike, but DC has room to improve. A month ago my friend was in the ICU for getting hit by a car. Last week I was threatened by a DC police officer for riding my bike in the street (completely legally.) Countless times I have either personally experienced or witnessed dangerous or unaware drivers and near misses with bikes- many of them DC city employees and WMATA bus drivers. The fact of the matter is that this city needs a progressive, highly active bike community to make our needs met and feel safe riding. Legba is an amazing person and I applaud his creative direct action. It's gotten everyone's attention and only brought more awareness of this totally solvable problem of either oblivious or aggressive drivers and the city needs to DO SOMETHING about it instead of take down the one public work that promoted bike safety. One little poorly placed sign does not do any justice.
By vegan cyclist 2.0 , Posted September 11, 2009 10:12 AMIt's funny how there's always somebody who steps up and says, "but bikes run red lights and stop signs and do things..." like drivers DON'T. Come on. VC2.0 makes the point -- not a single motorist is ever harmed by a scofflaw cyclist's acts -- and I am not CONDONING them, either, I'm pointing out physical harm -- while Alice Swanson is the perfect example of what a scofflaw motorist can do.
By Big Pedaler , Posted September 13, 2009 9:13 PMLet's remember what's really important about these ghost bikes...it's about the POSITIVE social change they aim to accomplish. Alice's life, and, unfortunately her death as well, has focused on making a difference in people's lives. She should be remembered for trying to make a positive change. Another example of the legacy she leaves behind is a fellowship program that her family set up in support of Alice's international and human rights experience with SIT Study Abroad, a program of World Learning (www.worldlearning.org/ourworld). Let's stay focused on how we can also make a difference...and potentially stop other fatal accidents from occuring.
By Alejandra Pallais , Posted September 17, 2009 4:23 PM