Litter: trash, such as paper, cans, and bottles, that is left lying in an open or public place.
While some of the objects surrounding the bike – empty alcohol bottles, wrappers – were clearly litter, other objects could not be so clearly classified. We wondered, how can we define litter vs. non-litter. What does the presence of these objects mean in relation to the bike? Some of these more conspicuous objects included a comb, an electrical wire, a child’s sock, and a fallen decorative flower.
We had not noticed these items on our first visit to Tony Turner’s ghost bike. But the way the electrical cord was buried into the ground and the accumulation of residue on the comb indicated to us that they had been there for quite some time. We felt these objects had some added layer of significance compared to the typical litter – the mini liquor bottles, wrappers, shattered glass, and so forth. They indicated to us a presence of life and juxtaposed with the blooming dandelions and mushrooms in the ground, reminded us that even in the midst of death, there is always something that lives on.
We questioned how these objects came to acquire their place on the edge of Roxboro Road. Was someone walking along the road and dropped them, were they just tossed away here? The fallen decorative flower was especially intriguing. This flower had adorned the ghost bike on our previous visit, but now it had separated from the bike and landed right near the edge of the street. How does the significance of the flower change once it is detached from the ghost bike it belongs to? It became clear to us that there is not necessarily a consistent level of permanence attached to the bike. The bike, and those items that decorate it, are affected by the environment. The bike will change over time as wind, rain, and snow chip away at its paint. The items – such as the flower we found – that individualize it may not endure the changing climate. Yet, ultimately, as long as the bike still stands, Tony Turner’s memory still lives on at this corner.