'Ghost bike' tribute to cyclist killed in Croydon crash disappears
A 'GHOST bike' tribute to a cyclist killed in a car crash in the summer has mysteriously disappeared – devastating his mother.
The memorial had been padlocked to railings near Archbishop Lanfranc School, in Mitcham Road, to mark the death of tube driver Neil Turner, 31, from Cudham, Kent.
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The ghost bike in Mitcham Road, near Archbishop Lanfranc school, in memory of Neil Turner who was killed after crashing with a car
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Neil Turner was in collision with a car in Mitcham Road in July and died as a result
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A car parked at the ghost bike site was struck
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The ghost bike in Mitcham Road, near Archbishop Lanfranc school, in memory of Neil Turner who was killed after crashing with a car
Cycling campaigners thought the bike, put up after Mr Turner's death in July, had been taken to make way for roadworks.
But Croydon Council said on Tuesday it had no word of its workers or contractors removing the bike.
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Neil's mother Beryl told the Advertiser: "We spread his ashes here in October and then we went down to look at it, so that was the last time we went up there.
"What a dreadful thing for people to do.
"I hope they do find out what has happened to it because that is terrible. It was so thoughtful of people to do that [put the bike there in the first place]."
Kristian Gregory, of the Croydon Cycling Campaign, who installed the bike in late July, said he was the only person with keys to the bike's heavyweight lock and he had placed notices on the bike with contact details in case authorities needed to remove it.
He said: "If it has been removed by workers, they have not followed the procedure, as they are supposed to consult with us and let us know they are going to do it."
In a stark reminder of the dangers of the accident spot, a car parked next to where the memorial had been secured was hit by a passing vehicle early on Friday. On Monday night, its bonnet was still lodged into a tree on the pavement, awaiting repairs.
A police spokesman said officers had been called to the site on Friday about the damaged car, but had not received any reports about the bike.
The white-painted two-wheeler was donated by Maurice Burton, a former British cycling champion who now runs De Ver Cycles bike shop in Streatham.
He told the Advertiser this week he had no news of the bike, but recalled why the project was close to his heart.
Mr Burton said: "They contacted me and it is not nice to learn a cyclist has been killed.
"I've come close to it myself."
Cyclists are campaigning for improved safety measures on Mitcham Road, following the crash.
Comments
by Austen_CR_LCC
Friday, December 14 2012, 1:22PM
“Update 14/12/12
London Cycling Campaign received a telephone call yesterday afternoon (13 December 2012) from Mr Roy Turner, Neil's father. He said that apparently the bike was removed as the result of joint decision between the head and the Met Police officer at the school over concerns of the safety of the kids at the school. Digging deeper, it seems that they were concerned that passing road users would be distracted from the road by the ghost bike and that children going to/from school would also be distracted by the ghost bike and they wouldn't look out for what traffic was doing on the road.
That justification is worthy only of ridicule, but complements neatly the fact that the head teacher of Archbishop Lanfranc told Croydon Cycling Campaign that "we do not allow pupils to cycle to school for reasons of health and safety and security" - this despite there being a cycle club at the school.
Suggestions to the head for a 20mph zone outside the school were rejected as unnecessary - "speed restrictions on Mitcham Road at our opening and closing times would make little difference as the traffic is frequently stationary; inconsiderate parking and point turns are more of a problem." So, there aren't any hazards to kids or traffic then - except caused by a roadside memorial, it seems. What utter rubbish, as anyone who walked, drove or cycled past the ghostbike could testify. The fact that a car smash occurred there after the bike's removal is further evidence.
Apart from the disrespect shown to Neil Turner's family, there is also the matter of the bike's removal. It was clearly labelled with a placard saying on one side what it was commemorating and, on the reverse, contact details stating that if the bike required removal, giving contact details for someone who had the keys to the two expensive D-locks used to secure it. The head teacher and school had been contacted by Croydon Cycling Campaign so would have been aware who had put it there and how to get hold of us. We heard nothing about plans to remove the bike.
Based on what information we've been passed, it seems that police time and money has been wasted on a secretive act of vandalism and theft, little different from people who steal metal war memorial plaques. Policing is meant to be evidence-based, consultative and to reflect public priorities - that doesn't appear to have happened here.
As for the school, its discipline policy is intended to, amongst other things, "engender respect for self, others and their property". That's something that shouldn't only apply to the pupils.”