Closing Bell: 5th Ave Ghost Bike in Bloom
One of the most wrenching sights in Park Slope is the ghost bike on 5th Avenue and Prospect Place, a memorial for Liz Padilla, the 28-year-old pro bono lawyer who was killed while riding her bicycle nearby in 2005. Sunflowers were recently added to the memorial, most likely because this week marks the third anniversary…
One of the most wrenching sights in Park Slope is the ghost bike on 5th Avenue and Prospect Place, a memorial for Liz Padilla, the 28-year-old pro bono lawyer who was killed while riding her bicycle nearby in 2005. Sunflowers were recently added to the memorial, most likely because this week marks the third anniversary of Padilla’s death. GMAP
just ignore 11:28. his mother didn’t love him enough.
I am a regular cyclist and I can see both sides. It’s no more “unsafe” to flout red lights and stop signs than for pedestrians to jaywalk. And that’s one of the nice things about cycling, you get there faster that way.
That said, many if not most cyclists here are in what I call the spandex speeder mode, going too fast, entitled, and disrespectful of pedestrians. I hold no brief for them either.
We need more cyclists out there doing routine activities and errands. The more it is seen as a normal activity, the safer it will be. So, to those of you who are scared, don’t be. If you go slow, are watchful, ring your bell when you pass a car with a driver in it, it’s quite safe.
I used to bike all the time in London. When I came here I was astounded at how badly New York drivers (especially young guys) treat cyclists. I was equally astounded at how the cyclists here flout all vehicular laws like one-way streets and red lights. Its a free for all.
Rather than serving to scare people from riding bikes and getting in cars instead, I wish Liz’s tragic death would raise awareness of having to better protect cyclists (i.e., bike boxes, dividers separating bike lanes, etc.) and promote programs to encourage cycling, like those that have been successful in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, etc. We need more bikes and less cars.
Some memorial. It gets cleaned up about once(maybe twice) a year. The rest of the time it’s full of dead flowers or dirty, disintegrating silk flowers. There is usually garbage stuck in or around the wheels left over from Miriam’s trash. Not a nice way to remember someone who was so caring and thoughtful.
As a neighbor, I was there shortly after she was hit. A very sad morning for all the neighborhood indeed, but surely there’s a better way to honor her memory.
i see that bike every time i leave my building.
When they get rid of cars, I’ll ride my bike all over.
Nokilissa, 3 years. do you know how many other people have died in that time? move on.
Oh boy. 4:57,
your attitude is both puzzling and sad. You seem angry and rather irrationally opposed to “that thing” which is a loving tribute and memorial to an amazing woman who gave of herself in spades to the community, and who died riding her bicycle on our streets.
It is hopefully a powerful reminder to drivers to be cautious and watch for cyclists, and also serves to remind us all how special and not to be taken for granted our lives are. Or can be.
It seems you may have some strong feelings being stirred up about that, or about her, or about yourself somehow falling short, but be mindful of how you say it.