Update
I originally reported this as a bicycle crash, but it turns out that a cyclist stopped to help a pedestrian. I wish the pedestrian a speedy recovery. Please be careful when riding in this section of East Blvd (section 3c); the bike lanes end temporarily eastbound and westbound.
A cyclist was involved in a bicycle auto collision. I’ll post details when I get them. Thanks to TL for the tip.
Two ghost bikes have appeared on South Tryon memorializing cyclists that have been killed by buses. The bikes are about half a mile from each other. The S. Tryon/Remount bike memorializes Shcrissony Potts who was killed about 1 year ago by a school bus. The bike near Clanton in front of the CATS bus depot memorializes Todd Weaver who was killed by a CATS bus. The bikes are totally painted white and have signs that read ‘WATCH FOR BIKES’. It seems that these memorials are part of a global campaign of GhostBikes.Org. According to the web site, “[the bikes] serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists’ right to safe travel.” There are two other Ghost Bikes just outside of the city to memorialize Lee Anne Barry and Tom Hoskins.
Gary Fisher was in Charlotte…well, he was making a connection at Charlotte-Douglas. He was on my flight to San Franciso. He was so nice and friendly to people. Anyway, I got a chance to thank him for his contributions to a sport that I love. While we were talking at baggage claim, two cops zoomed by on mountain bikes; how fitting. He’s cool.
This bike was ridden til the tires fell off. It made to the New Bern station, where it sat for over 24 hours – unlocked.
This looks to me like an important journey. He/She was on the street, got a flat, rode the rim, dumped the bike at the New Bern Station ticket machine and hopped on the train – no problem. Arriving at the destination was obviously more important then the bike. Bikes like this one are commonly on Charlotte’s Craigslsit for $50 (probably this exact one, by now). But what is the value of a bike with a flat to a rider that has never changed a tube or knows the cost to do so. As more new cyclists are commuting on the streets, I predict we’ll see more abandoned bikes. Perhaps this is why cities like Chicago, Fruitvale, Seattle, etc… opened full service public bike stations. Maybe Charlotte should get one.
The world has one less full suspension Univega mountain bike. The USNWC trails claimed the life of this old bike on Saturday afternoon. The young rider was not injured. What caught my attention was the magnitude of the destruction; the rear triangle snapped right off. At the time of the photo, the bike was held together by the brake and shifter cables. I guess this is where Craigslist and Ebay get all those parts.
The southbound Lynx and Cats Walk users have some new art to appreciate. The work of local artists Zach Northington, Paul Cotter and Mike Watson cover the 3 remaining 60ft tall Silos. I like the art, I looked deep within myself to decipher the message, here goes…”Buy prosthetic blue glass eyes.”
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