Midtown Business Group Removes Memorial Bike for Killed Cyclist

Flatiron NoMad Partnership trashed the ghost bike honoring Robyn Hightman, leaving their grieving father devastated.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 5:04am

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Cleaners for the Flatiron NoMad Partnership in New York City removed a ghost bike memorial for Robyn Hightman, a cyclist killed by a truck driver in 2019. Surveillance footage shows the workers cutting the bike's chain and disposing of it, despite the memorial's significance to Hightman's family and the cycling community. The business group claims the bike's appearance had deteriorated, but photos show it was still in decent condition when removed.

Why it matters

Ghost bikes serve as powerful tributes to cyclists killed on the road, reminding the public of the dangers they face. Hightman's father says the ghost bikes were some of the only remaining memorials to his child, making the removal especially painful. This incident highlights the lack of training and sensitivity around ghost bikes among private sanitation workers, as well as the need for better protection and preservation of these important memorials.

The details

Surveillance footage obtained by Streetsblog shows two Flatiron NoMad Partnership workers first cutting the chain securing the ghost bike to a pole, then disposing of the bike. The business group claims the bike's appearance had deteriorated due to recent winter weather, but photos show the memorial was still in decent condition when removed. Hightman's father, Jay, says the ghost bike was one of the only remaining tributes to his child, who used they/them pronouns, making its removal "heartbreaking and upsetting." There was also a ghost bike for Hightman in their native Virginia, but that was removed as well.

  • The ghost bike memorial for Robyn Hightman had stood on Sixth Avenue in New York City for almost seven years.
  • The ghost bike was removed on February 18, 2026.

The players

Robyn Hightman

A cyclist killed by a truck driver in New York City in 2019, whose death was mourned citywide.

Jay Hightman

The father of Robyn Hightman, who has become an advocate for road safety since their child's death.

Flatiron NoMad Partnership

A private business improvement district that provides supplemental services like sanitation and security in the Flatiron and NoMad neighborhoods of New York City.

Antonio Garcia

The truck driver who killed Robyn Hightman, but was not punished for the death.

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What’s next

Jay Hightman says he hopes to reinstall Robyn's ghost bike, as he believes there is "a value for people to be able to both see ghost bike signs as well as these ghost bikes" for road safety advocacy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the lack of training and sensitivity around ghost bikes among private sanitation workers, as well as the need for better protection and preservation of these important memorials to cyclists killed on the road. It also underscores the deep pain felt by Robyn Hightman's family at the loss of one of the few remaining tributes to their loved one.