Ghost Bike for Jen Shao
Posted September 19, 2005 by in VR Projects
On Sunday, September 18, members of Visual Resistance created and installed a ghost bike memorial for Jen Shao, a 65-year old grandmother killed by a hit-and-run driver in the financial district last Friday morning. Ms. Shao was struck by a charter bus while attempting to turn from Governeur Lane onto Water St., a busy two-way street with no bike lane. The driver never stopped; police are classifying this as a hit-and-run, a potential felony.
Creating and installing ghost bikes is a sad and moving process. The death of a fellow bicyclist hits home, since we travel the same unsafe streets and face the same risks; it could just as easily be one of us. At Governeur and Water St. on Sunday afternoon, a collection of flowers and candles was laid out along with photographs and notes from neighbors and friends. We locked a bike painted white and bolted a small memorial plaque to a signpost as the cars continued to speed by. A biker and several pedestrians stopped and stood with us for a few moments.
The installation is intended as a reminder of the tragedy that took place on Friday, September 16th at this lonely corner in the financial district, and as a quiet statement in support of bikers' right to safe travel. Previous memorials have been installed for Elizabeth Padilla, Andrew Ross Morgan, and Brandie Bailey. Our hearts go out to their friends and families.
Each time we say we hope to never have to do it again --- but we remain comitted to making these memorials as long as they are needed.
See all the ghost bikes.
Comments
I know that wearing a helmet won't make the roads safer from reckless drivers, but do it anyway!
Have any pictures of the memorial?
This is a project The Ride Of Silence fully endorses and encourages. It is a program we hope to
install in every city where The Ride Of Silence takes place. I know it is strong program in the St.
Louis area where I believe it got started. And from the photo's, it is a very moving experiece to see
one of the ghost bikes on the side of the road. (Believe it or not, I understand, it actually has a pos-
itive effect on motorists. One, they slow down; two, they are more aware of cyclists.)
Now if we can just get Dallas, Chicago, Houston, New York, Boston, Greenville, Joilet, San Bernadino,
and Tucson on board, together, maybe, just maybe, we can stem the carnage.
Contact your local bike dealer about this idea, asking for old bikes. Certainly, sadly, there are enough
places to put them.
Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
www.rideofsilence.org
Check out more photos of the memorial here:
http://visualresistance.org/photos/?p=105
This was just after Ms Shao was mudered so there may be more flowers aand such now. If you happen to visit it and document how this memorial progresses please send us your images.
visual.resistance(at)gmail.com
there will be a memorial bike ride tonight, thursday sept 22nd, in honor of jen shao
meet 7pm @ Time's Up! space. 49 E Houston between Mott & Mulberry (outside please, workshop inside)
ride leaves @ 730pm.
bring white flowes & candles
PLEASE HELP
Hi there! I'm a biker and a journalist. I've been asked by the woman weekly of the top selling Italian newspaper la Repubblica to write a story about this form of protest-art. I got in touch with the Seattle group (Ghostcycle.org), but I still need to FIND A PICTURE in high resolution (JPEG 300 DPI BASE 12 CM). Just like the one of Shao. That's perfect to explain to readers what's on. And.. eventually, do the same in our cities...
CAN ANYONE HELP? I DO APPRECIATE
ciao... my bike is waiting for me
That’s a fantastic idea for a memorial, now every time a car drives by they might be reminded to drive carefully.
Katie Morris
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Thank you eliot.
To all cyclists ride safe, to all motorists, keep your eyes open,
or get on a bike!
Posted by: k.see at September 19, 2005 1:17 PM