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news
Council plans to remove ghost bike tribute to young cyclist killed in Bath
Bath & North East Somerset Council says that it plans to remove a white ‘ghost bike’ commemorating a young cyclist who was killed while riding his bike more than three years ago.
It says the proposed action is in line with an initiative being piloted by a number of local authorities across the UK regarding roadside tributes to people who have lost their lives in collisions, as well as bikes used for advertising purposes or ones that have been abandoned.
However, the charity Cycling UK has told road.cc that it cannot find any evidence of a nationwide policy regarding roadside memorials, and that the approach taken tends to depend on the individual local authority involved.
The ghost bike commemorates 19-year-old Jake Gilmore, who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident on Midland Bridge Road in November 2013. It was placed there shortly after his death, but the identity of who was behind it is not known.
The teenager’s parents, who live in Chard, Somerset, have said that it should be up to the citizens of Bath to decide whether or not the bike, which they say acts as a reminder to motorists to maintain concentration, should stay.
Toby and Sue Gilmore, whom the council says it has attempted to contact ahead of the removal of the bike, scheduled for 3 April, told the Bath Chronicle: "The white bike has been marking the place where Jake was killed for over three years.
"It has been an obvious symbol of the consequences of driving badly and without full attention; and may have inspired some motorists to concentrate on what they are doing.
"In this way it has served the community of Bath. If the people of Bath would prefer it to stay for this reason then we would not want to stop them asking that it remain.”
The local authority has attached a notice to the bike saying that unless it is removed by 3 April 2017, the council itself will remove it.
It said it had taken the action "following complaints from members of the public concerned that pedestrians could trip or knock into them.
"We are sympathetic to the use of bikes being used for memorials but we ask that they are removed within one month,” it continued.
"They can be returned to mark anniversaries, but must be removed after 30 days."
It's not clear how many complaints the council may have received about this specific bike, and certainly locals that the Bath Chronicle spoke to seemed to have no problem with it remaining where it is.
The council cited “best practice researched nationwide” as being behind its decision and said it was one of a number of local authorities across the country trialling the initiative, although Cycling UK said this was not something it had previously heard of.
The organisation also highlighted a page on the council’s website which outlines the procedure to be followed, which Cycling UK interprets as meaning that the bike can remain in place so long as whoever put it there contacts the local authority – although another interpretation is that the bike will still be removed, but not disposed of as long as contact is made.
Ghost bikes/Abandoned bikes/Bikes Chained up clearly being used for advertising purposes
1. Tag bike stating it will be removed by specific date (5 working days) unless Council is contacted (use Council Connect for contact details).
2. If Tag remains, and no contact then remove and store tagged Midland Road Recycling Centre for 3 weeks. Keep a list of those removed, and a photograph accessible by Council Connect in the event of enquiries. Inform police of this approach.
3. If no contact made within 26 days of first tag then dispose of bike through usual reuse/recycling contracts.
4. If bicycle is claimed then must be collected from Midland Road depot. No charge proposed (subject to numbers).
The national cyclists’ charity told road.cc: “Without knowing the reasons behind Bath & North East Somerset Council’s trial in removing ghost bikes, their actions seem more than a little insensitive especially considering reports suggest this is an active memorial.
“Cycling UK is aware some road safety officers have previously claimed, without evidence, that ghost bikes could distract drivers and cause collisions. However, by extending this rationale, all advertising should likewise be banned!”
In September 2014, the driver of the car involved in the fatal collision, Raymond Isherwood, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, perverting the course of justice, failure to surrender to police bail and cultivation of cannabis.
Jake’s parents said that they avoid the location where their son sustained his fatal injuries, and that the ghost bike “marks a location of unspeakable horror for us and we never go anywhere near it.
"Jake is buried in the churchyard in the village where he lived with us and grew up,” they added. “His headstone stands at the head of his grave and is his permanent memorial.
"Whether the bike stays or goes, Jake will always be gone. We have not recovered."
It’s not the first time we’ve come across instances of local authorities in the UK removing ghost bikes or giving notice of their intention to do so, as these stories from Hackney and Nottingham show, and we’re aware of ghost bikes that have been removed elsewhere, such as one outside Oxford’s Bodleian Library.
We’re trying to build up a picture of individual councils’ approach to the issue, so if you are aware of any ghost bikes in your area that have been removed or which the council has left in place, please let us know in the comments below including the name of the local authority concerned.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- galibiervelo 33 min 1 sec ago
That is class news. Super bikes and vision. Bet there will be no stand at the Taiwan bike show next year! Big luck to all the team
- Hirsute 55 min 24 sec ago
"However, he said that by moving his head around Wilkinson, who was driving at around 20mph, could and should have been in a position to have seen...
- Destroyer666 1 hour 15 min ago
Pretty clearly stated several times in the text that the issue was not related just to his son. And besides, everybody watching the races could see...
- Rendel Harris 1 hour 31 min ago
All Fizik and Selle Italia saddles (though not all their other products) are made in Italy I believe, and their 3D printed models definitely are.
- chrisonabike 1 hour 56 min ago
If you're not on the road with a car, I bet its driver is much less likely to swerve into your space *. Because you're not "in the way"! (Any...
- mdavidford 2 hours 13 min ago
The problem with this argument, though, is that it's just not true....
- Legin 4 hours 7 min ago
The tory party will oppose anything that might restrict their tanks rolling at the next election.
- mdavidford 4 hours 38 min ago
Especially since the similarly priced Tickr X did have that functionality.
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29 comments
I'm not at all surprised that Bath & North East Somerset Council would want to remove this daily visible reminder of their shameful disregard for the safety of vulnerable road users on their roads.
What's almost as shameful is their faux concern about imaginary citizens tripping over it rather than actual real citizens dying under the wheels of motor vehicles.
Red faces all round, I'd imagine.
Personally I think they should remove it, it'll just get increasingly run down and ill-befitting of the young boy's memory.
In its stead put up a bike shaped memorial, done by a local artist, comissioned by the council. Shouldn't cost more than a few grand surely and there can be explanatory text so people can take stock.
Freedom of Information request would reveal number of complaints and soecify the exact 'national policy'.
As far as I can tell from the pics, there is nothing anywhere on the bike that suggests it's in any way a memorial - no picture, no name.
Unless you've got the background knowledge of what it is there for, what you have is an abandoned rusty heap chained to a railing with some long-dead flowers that looks a mess. You can see the bike on Google street view and looks pretty sorry on there.
It's also not unreasonable to argue that it's an obstruction on the pavement, so it's no wonder the council want to remove it.
I suppose you've got to weigh up how many people know what a ghost bike is rather than an rusty eyesore.
Joe public probably just sees the latter.
edit: I seem to remember was it South Yorkshire police getting into a bit of bother when it turned out they were behind putting flowers out down the Snake Pass or Cat and Fiddle to reduce Motorbike fatalities.
That was Derbyshire County Council. On the Woodhead Pass, it seemed like every other lamppost at one point.
I'm a little unsure about ghost bikes. There were a lot in New York, where I lived for a while. On the one hand they honour the dead person as a friend and cyclist and help people to grieve, and they're a stark reminder to drivers of their responsibility in driving vehicles. BUT...on the other they kind of chip away at your confidence as a cyclist, I used to see about 10 a day on my routes in New York. I can imagine this putting off less confident riders. Ghost bikes I feel promote the misconception of city cycling as essentially dangerous, which I'm not sure is a good thing.
Exactly brooksby... if the argument is that it's getting a bit shabby: well, Valbrona knows where it is, and if its state offends him, instead of trolling about PC conspiracies, I'm sure he could pop along with a pump and/or a brush, or maybe contact a local bike shop or charity to see about a replacement.
No, he'd rather whine on the internet about how a memorial to a lad killed merely for riding his bike, one that some people find moving, needs to be removed as it's a bit tired.
Nasty little shit.
There's been one on gelderd road in leeds for the past 18 months, attached to a metal fence. Still see some ridiculous speeding on that stretch, I think only speed cameras would stop that. But leeds council seem ok with it and I think it should stay to at least remind drivers of the damage they can cause.
The one on Kirstall Road disappeared a good few weeks ago after the death December time.
I'd suggest that the reason you still see people speeding on that stretch is that most non-cyclists (and quite a few cyclists) haven't got a clue that there is a reason why that specific tatty old bike is chained up to a railing.
It does need removing; there are certain places where lasting memorials are allowed to be placed, which exist for a reason.
That's an argument for those lasting memorials, which I don't disagree with.
I don't see an argument in favour of removing it.
*Why* does it need removing?
It's a rusting bike with a couple of flat tyres that has been painted with white emulsion, and it has been chained up to some railings near to where a young man tragically lost his life.
Er, what don't you get about its presence not being very appropriate? Especially since it has been there for three years now.
So right now this boils down to a difference of opinion. You're telling me what it is, but you don't really get this 'making an argument' thing, do you, fucknut?
There isn't the opportunity to troll about Marxists or women or minorities so you're out of your very limited depth. Why don't you paddle over to the Wail for good.
Oh, so that's where they went wrong: they should have kept popping by to pump up the tyres and should have used proper weatherproof gloss or car paint...? It's so obvious.
A ghost bike is a symbol of something, as well as a memorial: what you've said is on a par with "they should knock down that war memorial: it's just this big lump of chipped stone, serves no purpose except for teens to sit on it and smoke".
(PS - can I presume that Jake's killer is now out of prison and back driving around Bath?)
It's a little different to a maintained war Memorial, unless of course the war Memorial near you is a painted rock covered in decaying flowers rather that a well maintained marble sculpture?
If this was a well crafted, easily identifiable and maintained homage then there would probably be less call for it to be removed. I could see a well painted white bike with the memorial purpose written on the top tube and/or down tube being a fitting tribute. I am not sure I'd be overly impressed with something in the state of the picture bike as a tribute, but maybe that's just me.
No, it's not just you.
There appear to be a few other sour Hyacinth Bucket-types on here keeping you company.
I view this ghost bike in the same way I view the overgrown plots in the graveyard with decaying flowers and bits missing. They stop becoming a memorial and become it's antithesis. If these things are not lovingly maintained then no-one is remembering them, they have become forgotten and that is immensely sad. people who have lost their lives deserve a fitting tribute, and in it's current state I do not believe this is one but with a little love and attention I am sure it could be.
that's my favourite part of the graveyard
I should caveat this, I view the overgrown recent graves that are surrounded by well maintained graves as sad. The very old section of the graveyards are wonderful and I love the overgrown nature of them.
Councillor Anthony Clarke probably thinks it's slowing the traffic down.
It looks a mess now. This is no tribute.
These ghost bikes, although marking a very tragic event, always give me the sense that a community still exists and cares.
I'm sure we'll see an article on here 'ghost bike returns' if the council proceed to remove this...and IMO, rightly so.
sounds like they would need to leave it there for three years if a "new" ghost bike turned up
“best practice researched nationwide” or "we just made that up."
If it hasn't caused a problem in three years and may have improved some people's driving, why does it suddenly have to be moved now? I certainly don't believe that more than one person has complained.
I imagine that it depends on whether that one person is a friend or relative of a BANES councillor...