Flashes of Panic

There’s a new ghost bike in Washington, DC this week. Not somebody I knew, but somebody people I know knew, a recent graduate of the College. 22 years old, all ready to save the world, and for whatever reason that’s all ended now, with no explanations.

I’ve seen a lot of bicycles on the road recently. Obviously Eugene and Portland were swarming with them, but I feel like there have been more than usual in Amherst, as I’ve mentioned, many of them new commuters. I’d like to see more, I’d like to see more bikes replacing other fuel-burners and honestly I’d rather not see us placing any more ghost bikes. But there are so many cars on the road that even a noticeable increase in bikes doesn’t represent a noticeable decrease in cars.

So if you’re riding—or, for that matter, if you’re driving where there seem to be more riders than before—remember to read the Bicycle Safe page, which I’ve linked before. (And wear your helmet, too, because there are more ways to fall off a bike than just getting hit by a car.)