Descansos

This week, the news section talked about ghost bikes, memorials constructed around the state to mark the spot where a cyclist was killed by a vehicle. One went up in Laguna for the young activist who was riding across the country to raise money for breast cancer research.

The all-white bikes first began appearing in St. Louis, according to this site, but they've been installed across the country. They're reminders to drivers that we need to be aware and considerate of cyclists.

But many municipalities remove the ghost bikes. New Mexico's seen it happen. That bike in Laguna was removed by the state's Transportation Department. It was later re-erected after one activist found her way through some red tape. New York City is considering a adding a rule to the books on the "removal of derelict bicycles."

The problem, some say, is that the bikes are not treated as descansos, or traditional roadside memorials. Alibi.com ran a special websclusive article by Patrick Lohmann this week about the fight to keep ghost bikes in New Mexico.