So, i'm not sure if this should go here? But perhaps since i'm beginning my discussion with "First Ghost Bike in Northern Ireland", i consider it a "World Event."
Last year, a man was killed on a bridge in my City. Typical Car to Bike collision. On his anniversary a few days ago, a bike, painted white with "R.I.P" messages in marker on it was left in tribute. The family thanked whoever had been so thoughtful.
Apparently this is common in other places in the world? Anyone got any dirt on it? Think it's right/wrong? EtcEtc.
I thought it was quite nice, considering it was a stranger who paid tribute.
But i mean, what's the significance for it? And should someone who didn't know the person/ was in no way affected by his death really make this kind of statement?
Perhaps one could come at it at the viewpoint that it's like leaving a replica knife at the scene of stabbing, I suppose, but the fact that it has messages of condolence written on it shows that there's no ill-intent and that it's simply meant as a statement of memorial - something a little more permanent than laying flowers there. One doesn't have to personally know someone to mourn their passing or to pay respect to them.
Oh god, the armatars... Also, I thought this would be about cyclists riding in the wrong direction like ghost drivers, but that might be a more... local term. Anyway.
It seems that the idea of putting up memorials of victims of accidents or murder on the anniversary of their death is a fairly new idea, that has begun to spike over the last decade or two. Earlier, perhaps a few lights and flowers were appropriate, but these days most people will act like the victim was a close friend of theirs and will make an amazing effort to show their grief and the support to the family. The bike itself seems like a good idea, not only for the family and friends left behind, but also as a reminder of how soft cyclists are, though I could see a problem in this sort of public reminders and memorials, as the person driving the car most likely will have to live with this accident on their consciousness for the rest of their life, and might already not feel entirely well about travelling the road where they once killed someone. Seeing such memorials will most likely renew this remorse and guilty feeling, even if it was an entirely accidental event where no real guilt can be placed.
Anyway. I haven't seen anything like that before. Mostly people will put up cardboard or a bed sheet with some loving words by the way side. But it does seem like a remarkable effective idea, especially considering the colour that is pretty visible (however ironic it might be).
This seems like an evolution from the tradition of the masked individual giving a red rose to Edgar Allen Poe's grave every anniversary, though one is about accidental/intentional death and another was the end of their days.
I can see this happening in late Winter in my area, someone giving a police uniform with condolences in the memorial area of the shooting.
I think its nice. But following this logic we should place a bomb to honor the bomb blast victims or crash planes in 2 buildings ever 9/11. BTW because of armatars, at first glance, it looks like that a crazy person is talking to himself.
