My uncle and his best mate were killed when I was a child by a drunk driver who went through a giveway sign. His wife was thrown from the car and killed instantly. I think the driver went to jail, or for community service. I remember my grandmother saying that whatever the term was it wasn't going to bring back the two boys, or the mans wife. And he would have to live with that for the rest of his life, whether he was in prison or not.

I think the ghost bike idea is a good idea, both for remembrance as well as a reminder for drivers and cyclists alike.

I love to ride my bike and have been riding (training and racing) on and off for almost thirty years (dammit!! I'm older than I think I am) and in all that time have only encountered the odd person driving a vehicle who has a case of serious arseholism. The majority of vehicle drivers are most respectful of my safety. Ride on!

Great post Ann. I think I read an article last year about a guy up north who does ghost bikes up there. People certainly notice the crosses - I'm all for ghost bikes. In this particular case you are right - there is a very obvious person at fault. I find it interesting that just about every cyclist I know has already read the revised and recently released updated road codes, but I don't know a single non-cyclist who hasn't. A shame, because it's very clear on how the roads should be shared.

I have occasionally seen cyclists do some idiotic things on the road, but that doesn't change the fact that as a motorist you have a responsibility to be aware of hazards and avoid them. Arguments over moral high ground are pretty inconsequential in comparison to broken limbs (or worse).

Put another way - you would automatically brake to avoid a pedestrian even if they ran out without looking, so why should a cyclist be any different?

I had a strange argument recently with a guy who doesnt think his family should cycle and doesnt much himself coz it's so dangerous. part of me agreed, and the other part got angry thinking why should we (I've recently started cycling, my parents and their friends are fanatics) stop doing something we enjoy so much because of a the chance of getting hit? i thought it was sad that this guy wasnt biking because of the perceived (and probably real) danger.

cyclists shouldnt ride 2 or 3 abreast, and cars should respect we are smaller, lighter and eaily knocked off our bikes so give us space.

I'm in favour of the idea of Ghost Bikes. However I believe in our society, if the bike were in working order, someone would flog it. Too many people show too little respect in our country. I'm sure some opportunist would steal the bike without an ounce of guilt.

Unfortunately they'd probably just be stole by some cheeky little punk... nice idea though... someone being killed is pretty sobering for all involved.

It's a joke that this drunk grandmother gets two years in prison for killing someone and tearing a family apart. Note how the media portray her as the victim, how she's been a victim of abuse, how she'll "struggle in prison"... WTF? Everyone has problems, deal with them, she KILLED someone, why was she not charged with manslaughter?! I'm pretty sure the young widow and fatherless child are going to "struggle" somewhat more than this old hag... tie her to a flagpole somewhere and leave her to rot.

Meg, you're right for the most part. I think the majority of NZ drivers are pretty considerate. A lot of cyclists don't help themsevles (or the rest of us) by riding obnoxiously or dangerously. I ride for a couple of hours every single day and find 95% of drivers give you plenty of room and are very corteous. 4% will do something stupid and just haven't noticed, unintentional however still rather dangerous (usually taxi's), and there's probably <1% who're just f**kwits.

I encountered a rarity on my way into work this morning: a child riding his bike to school.

I suspect that there is more aggro out there because cyclists are no longer seen as "normal people". There are fewer cyclists riding in their work clothes or on beat-up old bikes that were not designed for speed, and indeed there are fewer kids on bikes.

There are possibly more riders out there, but they are more commonly lycra-wearing, racing-bike riding Others, to whom drivers (the "regular" people) don't identify with.

(Declaration: I ride to work most days in a tatty pair of shorts and a polo shirt, with no sunglasses. I have not encountered any driver aggro.)

Here's one of the articles about the ghost bike in Northland...sadly, there was another article a short while later about it being vandalised. http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/local/news/ghost-bike-memorial-to-fallen-rider/3784002/

I don't ride myself but my father does and he's been clipped a couple of times. I think ghost bikes are a positive idea. Something to think about maybe - do the white crosses at the side of the road catch your attention when you're driving past in a car? They do mine, anyway... so if there were enough ghost bikes, they might do the same thing.

His Lordship #8

I think you've hit it on the head. There are fewer 'commuter' cyclists and more of the lycra-clad heroes (of which I have to confess to being one). I cycle to work every day, and I find that the comments I receive are all questioning my sexual orientation because I wear lycra, and not about any worng positioning of my bike on the road.

There is another aspect though, and that is people in the flash cars (mercs, etc) are the first on the horn, as they accelerate past. I get the sense they consider me too poor to own a real vehicle and therefore below their contempt - a second-class (as well as temporary) citizen.

I wear lycra because it works, and not because I think I look cool in it.

It is a real shame that the ghost bikes are exposed to vandalism, and it reduces and cheapens the value of the monument. Can CAN strike a deal with local councils, to ahve these hoisted further up a power-pole out of reach?

I hope we don't put up too many, and certainly not one for me please!