
Ghost Bike #2

Ghost Bike #1
Letter from Jennifer:
Mark Motsko
Public Information Officer
Department of Municipal Development
City of Albuquerque
There was a Ghost Bike for cyclist Roy Sekreta, 1964-2008, located at the intersection where he was killed, at Comanche NE where the North Diversion Channel multi-user path crosses. This bike was the second Ghost Bike put there for Roy. And like the first, this one too has disappeared.
I have been told that it was taken down under directive of the Department of Municipal Development, thus I am writing to you. I rode by the Ghost Bike on Tuesday evening, November 17th and e-mails started circulating on Wednesday November 18th that the Ghost Bike was gone.
What happened to this road side memorial? Do employees of the Department of Municipal Development not realize that there is a state law that protects Descansos, or Road Side Memorials? This Ghost Bike was put there to memorialize Roy. Cyclists, friends and family want to remember what happened, who Roy was and the fact that his life ended too early.
I want to know what happened to that Ghost Bike. There was no legal reason to take it down as I read the state law and I want it put back.
I await your comments,
Jennifer Buntz
1309 Arizona St NE
Albuquerque NM 87110
30-15-7. Desecration of roadside memorials; penalty.
A. A person shall not knowingly or willfully deface or destroy, in whole or in part, a descanso, also known as a memorial, placed alongside a public road right of way to memorialize the death of one or more persons.
B. A person who violates the provisions of Subsection A of this section is:
(1) for a first offense, guilty of a petty misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978; and
(2) for a second and subsequent offense, guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officials or other employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state who in the course of the lawful discharge of their duties move or remove a descanso that obstructs or damages any public road in this state or to an owner of private property upon which a descanso is located.
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Letter from Steve:
Hello Mr. Motsko,
A ghost bike memorial has been in place at the intersection of the multiple use path that runs parallel to the North Diversion Channel and Comanche to memorialize Roy Sekreta, who was killed at that location in a collision with an automobile in March 2008. I frequently ride along that path, as do several acquaintances of mine. Sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning this week, the ghost bike memorial for Roy Sekreta was removed. I have some second-hand information indicating that this removal was instigated by the Dept. of Municipal Development, City of Albuquerque, for whom I believe you are the Public Information Officer. I am thus writing to you in hopes that you will be able to help me understand and address this situation.
If, in fact, the City of Albuquerque had any role whatsoever in the removal of the memorial to Roy Sekreta mentioned above, I wish to lodge a formal complaint in regard to this action. In my view, the Roy Sekreta ghost bike was a roadside memorial (descanso), and as such is protected by New Mexico State law. Such memorials are sacred, and are protected by law for a reason. To me, that memorial was there to remember Roy, and also to remind bicyclists and motorists alike to pay attention and to drive with care through that intersection.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.
-Steve
