Vandalized ghost bike

It appears that some jackass recently vandalized the Tyler James Fabek (hope I am spelling his name right) ghost bike, which is on western under the 90 overpass, northbound side. Both wheels are tacoed but from the quick glance I got I think the frame is still OK.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 3, 2014 at 3:11pm

I've seen that bike regularly forever, east of the skate park.  Though it's certainly suffered indignities, it's mainly just decaying; rims so rusted away that the tires droop.  Here's fresh pics:

Compared to my photo from 2008:

One of the few visible in StreetView.

Dust to dust.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 3, 2014 at 3:28pm

In a sad coincidence I happened to have been by the "1000 Ghost Bikes Monument" today (~4400 N Ravenswood) and it's gone.  I hadn't heard.  I wouldn't be surprised if it had been in the way of viaduct work, and may ask Lillstreet some day.  Anyone here know anything?

Here's how it looked in 2009:

And here's what's there now:

Pretty seriously poignant:

Permalink Reply by Thedutchtouch on May 3, 2014 at 5:59pm
Interesting. The Fabek ghost bike had been spun slightly around the pole and wheels looked more tacoed than a few weeks ago, so I assumed that it was vandalism. Perhaps (hopefully) it was just decay, and being moved caused the wheels to give way a bit.
Permalink Reply by Thedutchtouch on May 5, 2014 at 3:42am
I could likely take it down on Wednesday... Or if someone has a set of wheels, I could pick them up, paint them white and swap them out on site on Wednesday?
Permalink Reply by dan brown on May 5, 2014 at 4:20am

this is disappointing. I cleaned up and painted that bike last year.

RE :Wheels - Maybe check with Alex at West Town Bikes : He may have a set to donate.

I could help out with this Monday or Thursday if needed. send me a PM if you can use some help either of those two evenings.

Permalink Reply by Wesley Dolezal on May 5, 2014 at 7:50am

I think that I have an old set of rims in the basement of my apartment building if someone would like to pick them up later this week (Uptown).  I’ll double check when I get home tonight.

Permalink Reply by Chicago Ride of Silence on May 5, 2014 at 8:09am

Thanks for the updates and for keeping these bikes looking their best.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 5, 2014 at 8:39am

Ouch! Very sad. I was there for the dedication of that piece. I hope that someone at Lill Street knows something.

Andronymous said:

In a sad coincidence I happened to have been by the "1000 Ghost Bikes Monument" today (~4400 N Ravenswood) and it's gone.  I hadn't heard.  I wouldn't be surprised if it had been in the way of viaduct work, and may ask Lillstreet some day.  Anyone here know anything?

Here's how it looked in 2009:

And here's what's there now:

Pretty seriously poignant:

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 5, 2014 at 12:34pm

Grateful for my rose-tinted sight, this seems like a non-issue y'all are planning to throw hard work at.  It's as beautiful and intact as a fragile metal sculpture that's spent six years in fumes and traffic can reasonably be expected to be. Not a safety hazard, sign legible, still standing, with a noble world-weariness that suits it's message.

And if replacing then why not one that's actually gone, like Blanca's? Or Isaiah's? Or the Monument?

Personally I'd give it a touch of paint and glue and 409 (or new rims at most) and save the big labor for new ones.  But do as you will.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 6, 2014 at 6:24am

I encouraged letting it be, like a weathering gravestone.  I'll volunteer to give it a dusting, straighten the chain ring, glue the seat, touch up paint, and add lots of fresh white plastic flowers, by May 19th.

But if y'all wanna overhaul, have at it, godspeed.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 6, 2014 at 6:39am

In other other news, check out Alicia Frantz from last weekend.  Looking rather grand for a nearly nine year old.

Permalink Reply by Marco Verzocchi on April 16, 2020 at 7:08am

I suspect that Alicia's ghost bike is soon going to be gone. When I passed there one hour ago there was work going on. The railing to which the bike is (was ?) attached was being removed by a work crew. They were cutting the railing and I suspect that the bike will be thrown away. There is some work going on (maintenance of the bridge, which is in a scary state, too much rust)

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