Decatur May Create Permanent Cyclist Memorial

The stolen Ghost Bike and Ghost Chair memorial may not be replaced at its former corner on North Decatur and Superior roads. However, city officials are talking of creating a new permanent cyclist memorial at Decatur's courthouse.

The white Ghost Bike and Ghost Chair served as memorials to cyclist Paul Taylor, who was struck and killed in April 2012 on North Decatur Road, and to Jianchang Wu, a pedestrian also struck and killed by a motorist near the intersection. 

Several in the community were fond of the memorials and said they served as reminders to be cautious of those cyclists and pedestrians sharing the road.

Dave Mathews, the creator of BikeFriendly Atlanta and the man who created the Ghost Bike and Ghost Chair memorials, told North Druid Hills Patch that he spoke with Decatur Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon and Decatur City Commissioner Fred Boykin, who owns Bicycle South, on Friday.

Both are interested in possibly creating a permanent cyclist memorial, something like a powder white bike rack with a special plaque, in front of Decatur's courthouse.
It would be the only white bike rack in the city. All others are black.

Boykin emailed NDH Patch and stated, "I can’t offer you much information at this time – the City of Decatur is researching what they can do and we have asked David to contact Ms. Taylor and ascertain her wishes. Until something concrete has been decided amongst the parties involved, any public comment would be premature." 

Anyone with information about the missing Ghost Bike and Ghost Chair are asked to contact Mathews on his Bike Friendlyatlanta Facebook page.

What do you think of the proposed cyclist memorial and its possible location? Should there be something erected near the location of Taylor's accident? Tell us in the comments below.