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Dear PoP – In Memory of Alice Swanson

09 July 2009 1:37 AM | By Prince Of Petworth in Dear PoP, memorial

DSCN7045, originally uploaded by Prince of Petworth.

“Dear PoP,

I’m writing about something I’ve seen mentioned a couple of times on your site, with some discussion/debate, but which is very close to my heart.

This morning, I stopped by Alice Swanson’s ghost bike. I was placing some flowers in the basket and debating whether to clean out some of the older flowers left there, when a gentleman came up and asked me if I was a friend of Alice’s. I said I was, and he said that he lived in the area and biked by every day, and appreciated seeing the bike every day.

I know that not all of your readers and commenters feel the same way, and I don’t know what the future plans are for Alice’s bike. I do know that I try to tend to it whenever I am nearby, and I know that countless others– those who knew Alice and many who didn’t– also keep it looking nice, and often decorate it for holidays and such. If this is a distraction to riders or an eyesore to some, I’m sorry– that is certainly not the intention. For many of us, it is a place to remember Alice and to have an outward expression of our feelings at her loss and also at her life, and the ghost bike itself stands as a reminder of caution.

Today is the one year anniversary of Alice’s death. Whether Alice’s bike remains for another day or another decade, I hope that it will be a reminder to all of us to be safe, to ride safe, walk safe, drive safe, and be aware of one another. And I hope that it will remind all of us to tell our friends and loved ones that we care about them, to appreciate their presence in our lives, and to never take them for granted.”

09 July 2009 8:36 AM | Binklesworth Said:

For one: I think it’s a great tribute and hope it stays there.
For two: I’ve just started biking in the city here – my first experience w/ city biking. Sometimes my gal and I ride to the Dupont Farmers’ Market, and to me it does serve as a reminder to be careful.

09 July 2009 10:13 AM | Anna of 1652 Said:

Thanks for posting this letter – Please continue to add flowers, and stop and think of her and share the story of her life with others that wonder why that old thing is still there. If this bike can remind just one person – in a car or a bike – to be safe than and gives comfort to her friends and family then we’ll always fight to keep it.

To my knowledge, the city has no intentions of removing it but we’ll try to stop them if they do.

I’m in love with you Alice!

09 July 2009 10:19 AM | Bogotron Said:

I just read about her – she sounded like a young woman with a very bright future. It’s truly a shame. I think the ghost bike is a very touching tribute, and I’ll be sure to stop by next time I’m in the area.

09 July 2009 10:33 AM | marco Said:

I was jogging through Central Park in NYC the other weekend and saw a ghost bike along one of the roads that cross through the park. The bike was covered with flowers and other mementos, and from the look of it had been there for a long long time. I hope the story stays the same with Alice’s bike.

09 July 2009 10:58 AM | Catherine Said:

Thanks for this. Alice is not forgotten. Many friends and family stopped by last night to place flowers and notes. It remains an important outlet for those who loved her, and I hope it remains undisturbed for years to come.

09 July 2009 12:38 PM | vonstallin Said: