Keep an eye out for these creepy bikes from the netherword around town starting today. Ghostcycle is planting them at various locations to raise awareness of the death-defying nature of riding a bicycle in the city and to remind you that when your car and a bike attempt to occupy the same space at the same time bad things will happen, generally to the bike and the person on it.
From their site:
The intent of the Ghostcycle project is to raise awareness regarding bicyclists on the streets of Seattle. Our city is one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America, but things can always improve. We began to use this website to collect data from cyclists in the Seattle-area who have been involved in an accident while bicycling. As the information began pouring in, patterns arose and we were able to identify and isolate trouble spots all over Seattle. On August 1, “ghostcycles” were placed in each of those trouble locations to make people start asking questions and direct them to our website where all of the information we collected is readily available.
Look here for their cool Google Maps application identifying the GhostCycle locations.
As an aside:
We didn't mind it when Critical Mass almost made us late for an event on Friday. We were stuck at a bridge, though, and couldn't see the bikes. We were shouting obcenities out the window at anything with a vaguely tall mast, and to all the poor souls who were victims of our derision at that time, we're sorry. We realize it wasn't your obnoxiously large sailing vessels that were making us late, and we hope nothing happens to you, despite what we said. It was the bicycles, after all. And who can blame bicycles.
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Here's some correspondence pertaining to the above. I will not provide context.
From: polish motorcyclist
To: Critical Mass participant
Subject: RE: Pictures from Critical Mass
i hate you all and if i was in a car i would run your asses off the road.
one of my biggest pet peeves? you guessed it. dumb ass cyclist in spandex thinking they help traffic congestion while slowing everyone down on the road.
and to do that, to fook w/ traffic and piss people off on purpose? you deserve to be put in a ditch.
why do you do that? seriously. to further your cause of alternate modes of transport, to call attention to that, etc? well you are doning that but NOT in a positive way that makes people like you more, want to shar the road with you or ride a bicycle.
don't even get me started.
i've been rideing motorcycle on the streets most of my life so i can relate and know a little about bad stigma/image/stereotype and it being perpetuated or (unintentionally) drawing attention to and yes, i realize sometimes i do nothing to stop that by doning wheelies and burn outs in traffic BUT i DON'T casuse traffic jams!
peace out bitches, i'm done :)
From: Critical Mass participant
To: polish motorcyclist
Subject: RE: Pictures from Critical Mass
Hey now. Simmer down! Please note that there was a notable lack of spandex. The only guy in spandex ride for Cal, and was in his school uniform, cause it matches his bike and he's a homo.
I agree with what you said about cyclists not sharing the road, but remember the context of the event. It was a monthly ride to draw attention to how cyclists are legally allowed to ride on the road. We had a parade permit and police escort. It would have been great if you had run me down. I would have gotten a free trip to the hospital, a new bike and probably enough money to go to school while you were sitting in prison for attempted vehicular manslaughter, road rage and whatever else my cyclist-lawyer brought down
From: polish motorcyclist
To: critical mass participant
Subject: RE: Pictures from Critical Mass
yes yes it would have been great i'm sure the pleasure would have been all yours to be graced by the bumber of the ultimate driveing machine.
i was not aware of the permits,etc... so now my argument is inconsequential as partaining to this particular even but still stands for such rides in general that are not official.
i was more just playing devil's advocate b/c i have to dodge cars on daily basis too, i'm faster and louder but cars don't see me just the same.
i'd still run YOU down though, just YOU. i'd look for the half naked guy with little man titties and run you down!
Thanks for posting this hilarious exchange.
Are these the pictures the subject line of these emails indicate?
http://flickr.com/photos/search/tags:critical+mass%2Cseattle/tagmode:all/