Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

Ghost bikes -- white-painted, road-side memorials to cyclists who died in traffic -- not only honor those who have lost their lives on the roads, but also remind drivers of their responsibilities toward more vulnerable people on the street.

false

But imagine if we applied the same concept to cars, says Network blog Baltimore Spokes:

Does anyone really think texting will be a problem after passing this alongside the roadway?

Maryland has 97,023 auto crashes a year (5 year average); that works out to be about three auto crashes per mile of roadway each year! Can you imagine what our roads would look like if these crashes stuck around for at least a year?

I think it would be a good educational tool to move a wrecked automobile to an entrance ramp (or other visible but out of the way public place) and let it sit there a while with a sign saying something like, "Pay attention and drive safe. Don't let this happen to you." But instead we sterilize the roadway, making it seem like nothing ever bad happens there. Denying a problem is the first step in making it worse.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Get Around Blog offers a critique of NPR's "War on Cars" story. American Dirt says big box-style convention centers rob visitors of opportunities to experience downtown. And Streets.mn remembers the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey

Spend the holiday weekend with Zohran Mamdani's answers to Streetsblog's mayoral candidate questionnaire.

July 4, 2025

Friday Video: Why NYC Needs ‘Low-Traffic Neighborhoods’

London's Church Street, like so many of our business corridors, was choking on cars — until the advent of the low-traffic neighborhood.

July 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: E-Bikes in Parks … Permanently Edition

The Parks Department will permanently allow e-bikes in city parks following a two-year pilot. Plus more news.

July 4, 2025

Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway

The highly-anticipated 34th Street busway may not happen under Mayor Adams after all, sources said.

July 3, 2025

Manhattan DA Says Alleged Central Park Hit-and-Run Cyclist Didn’t Flee, Drops Charges

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old cyclist "remained on the scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive to treat the injured person."

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025
See all posts