A stark white bicycle stands here. This is the Dead cyclist Intersection Ghost bike. It is more than just a painted frame. It is a silent memorial. It marks a tragic intersection.
Ghost bikes serve as reminders of cyclists’ vulnerability. They appear where a cyclist died in a collision with a vehicle. The Dead cyclist Intersection Ghost bike is located at Constitution Avenue and 12th Street NW.
This ghost bike commemorates Thomas Hollowell. He was a Virginia cyclist. Hollowell died here on September 24 2018. A speeding car struck him. The driver ran a red light. The driver then fled the scene. Hollowell was 64 years old. He died steps from his job. He worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Phillip Peoples was arrested almost three weeks later. He was charged with second-degree murder. A judge ordered Peoples jailed without bond.
Thomas Hollowell’s wife spoke at the memorial. Carol Regier shared his passion for cyclist safety. He wanted to make cycling safer. He sought ways for cars to see bicycles better. He wanted drivers to be more aware of cyclists.
Sadly, Hollowell is one of many cyclists who have died on D.C. streets. There was Carlos Alejandro Sanchez-Martin. He was killed while riding a scooter in Dupont Circle. Jeffrey Hammond Long also died in Dupont Circle while biking.
In October, Nijad Huseynov died while cycling. He was a graduate student at George Washington University. A ghost bike also marks the spot of his death. It is at L Street NW and Connecticut Avenue NW.
Advocates call for safer streets. They want more protected bike lanes. They emphasize that traffic crashes are preventable. They are not simply accidents. They result from how we design our streets.
The city launched Vision Zero in 2015. The goal was to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2024. The city has fallen short of this goal.
The Dead cyclist Intersection Ghost bike reminds us of this failure. It stands as a symbol. It represents the need for change. It calls for safer streets for all cyclists. It urges drivers to be more careful and aware. It is a powerful statement.