Re: Dangling sneakers
From: 'Teen in NYC'

The best way to find the answer to this ridiculous "urban legend" (that isn't really an urban legend at all) is to ask someone who lives in an area where this "phenomenon" is prevalant. I live in an area where seeing sneakers thrown over telephone lines and the like is an everyday occurance. The reason for this is because usually when a young child or teenager dies (which sometimes occurs more often in an area with gang/drug activities), the friends or family members will take a pair of their sneakers and throw them over power lines as a memorial. It symbolizes feet that will never again walk the face of this earth and are suspended in another place. I suppose there are other reasons for this to occur but that is the main reason — it is a memorial of sorts.