Hundreds of people bicycled through Baltimore on New Year’s Day to honor Tom Palermo, a cyclist who was killed in a Dec. 27 crash in Roland Park.
At the end of the three-mile ride, a Ghost Bike was placed at the site of the crash in the 5700 block of Roland to honor Palermo. First appearing in St. Louis in 2003, the all-white bikes work to transform crash scenes into memorials for the riders who tragically lost their lives. From the Ghost Bikes website:
Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They 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.
On YouTube, local cyclist Joel Avrunin also provided a lasting reflection point. The video shows Avrunin’s journey as he begins cycling alone, as many cyclists often do. Throughout the video, he gradually meets up with riders to form the memorial ride, and, in doing so, provides a window into the large and close-knit local cycling community.
A guest book for Palermo is also available to sign, and a fund was established to support his children’s education.
