When you see the Ghost Bike sign, remember to look for bicyclists on the road...to follow the rules of the road...and to be ready to react to the mistakes of other road users. Crashes are not accidents...they can be prevented. No one else has to die.

No one has to die on a bicycle. But they do.

Contrary to popular belief, bicycling is not inherently dangerous, especially when everyone follows the rules of the road. What's dangerous are the often-illegal interactions that occur between bicyclists and motorists every day, increasing the danger for everyone. If everyone followed existing laws more carefully, we would all be able to share the road safely.

Unfortunately, when car meets bike in a collison, it is almost always the bicycle that loses. At motor vehicle speeds above 35 mph, the result is often a bicyclist fatality. Even if the bicyclist does not die, they may suffer life-altering injuries.

We are all responsible for traffic fatalities when we drive a car or bicycle carelessly or lawlessly. Don't think it could happen to you? How often do you "zone out" while driving? How often does a motorist who has just hit a bicyclist say "I didn't see the bicycle"? Did they not see? Or were they not looking...not paying attention.

The Missouri Bicycle Federation's KC Ghost Bike Campaign is meant, not to frighten people away from riding bicycles, but to draw attention to the simple fact that, if motorists and bicyclists both pay closer attention to what they are doing...and follow the rules of the road...no one has to die on a bicycle.

A crash is not an accident...a crash can be prevented.

When you see these signs, remember to look for bicyclists. Remember to follow the rules of the road (on bicycle OR in a car). Remember to be prepared to react to the mistakes of other road users.

And remember...no one else has to die.