Turn Signal Biking Jacket

Ghost bikes. Every block seems to have one, if not multiples.

I used to walk past them all the time, not knowing what they were for. Ads? Viral street marketing? Turns out, sadly, it's both.

Ghost bikes are regular bicycles, painted white, that are chained up near the scene of a crash that killed a cyclist. Some have little plaques bearing the unlucky bikers name, some have flowers and candles, many have nothing.




When I finally figured out what the Ghost Bikes were and what they stood for, I found them to be an extremely effective way of making me that extra bit wary whenever I rode my bike through the mad tangle of our streets.

Bicycles and their fragile riders are such an integral part of the day to day workings of NYC that I'm frankly surprised that more hasn't been done to protect them and ensure that they can move freely through the cityscape. (With the exception of 9th Ave. which has an incredibly convenient bike lane.)

But there is hope!



The Turn Signal Biking Jacket, a wonderful creation by Leah Buechley, could ensure that fewer and fewer blocks are occupied by Ghost Bikes, and that there are more than enough safe and happy bikers.

Integrate a motion powered generator into the system and you've got an incredible piece of hardware.

Cheers to Leah Buechley for using her noodle! And cheers to swissmiss and treehugger for bringing this to our attention.

Keep an eye out for each other, be safe, share, and prosper.


Love to all,

SF