40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World That Should Be Implemented Everywhere
Have you ever attempted cycling through a city that’s designed purely for cars? It can be a harrowing experience that convinces you to either lock up your bike for a few months or move somewhere with the proper infrastructure for cyclists. Unfortunately, not every city in the world is pedestrian, driver and cyclist-friendly, but there are some with brilliant gadgets that make everyone’s life easier when navigating traffic.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the most innovative tools cities have utilized on their roads that have been shared in the Urban Equipment subreddit. Be sure to upvote the pics you wish were taken in your hometown, and don’t be scared to start pestering your local lawmakers to implement some of this technology as soon as possible!
This post may include affiliate links.
The Speed Camera Lottery In Stockholm, Sweden
Drive at or under the speed limit and you'll be entered into a lottery where the prize fund comes from the fines that speeders pay. Average speed reduced from 32 km/h to 25 km/h (a reduction of 22%).
Yes that's right. I think that's what they are getting at here
Load More Replies...Punishing "Pedal to the metal" Peter to pay put-putting Paul. Perfect!
Singapore Traffic Light Allows Seniors/Disabled To Tap Cards To Add Time To Cross
This is such a great idea. I walk on crutches and I always feel panicky when crossing as I can't walk fast enough. The UK need these!
I agree. The standard crossing time is supposed to have been given the 'green light' to increase. For UK highway engineers setting up pedestrian crossings at traffic lights (signalised crossings) are now advised that pedestrian clearance time may be calculated assuming a slower walking speed of 1m/s. This was, I think a few years ago. NICE ( National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) had also published papers on this issue. Not sure of the status, but more is needed.
Load More Replies...I saw that when I was there....I was wondering what that was for. Yay! Learning!
A Bike Pump Permanently Installed Next To The Bike Lock-Up Area
Sadly, as with the pumps at service stations I'm betting these get damaged or vandalised regularly in western countries like USA, Australia and U.K.
Funny that you say that. I was just thinking about a couple of different stations like this near San Francisco, California. They have a pump and include a few basic tools, and have lasted for years with very little damage.
Load More Replies...Toronto has little stations with pumps and common tools (wrench, Allen key, etc.) Love the bike-friendly places!
I'll admit it...in the US we could never have those and for an odd reason. Our lack of mental health care and our rigged, money hungry system. We can't have those cuz some tweaker would find some methed-out way to steal it and they would sell what they could to a scrap metal yard. If we had mental health care, if we didn't allow pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of people...we wouldn't have so many fúcking junkies and we could have cool bike pumps too.
My country does have insured mental health care. But we STILL have lots of metal thieves. Criminal idiots are found in any country :-(
Load More Replies...The Urban Equipment subreddit is dedicated to sharing some of the world’s best traffic lights, benches, street signs and more. The group has only been around since October 2021, but it has already amassed 1.4k members. And lucky for us, the community is great at spotting brilliant traffic gadgets from around the globe that many more cities should start utilizing. Some common topics discussed in the subreddit are road safety, traffic lights, urban decorations, street furniture, and street lights, and this list certainly highlights some of the best ones from around the world. Urban Equipment shows that we can find beauty and excitement in the mundane, including the signs we look at to know it’s safe to cross the street and those we often pass by without a second thought.
When it comes to what makes a city much easier for its inhabitants to navigate, reliable and safe public transport is an incredibly important factor. Unfortunately, not every city in the world has mastered the art of public transit yet, but according to a study conducted by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman and the University of California, Berkeley, the top 10 cities in the world with the best public transportation are: Hong Kong, Zurich, Stockholm, Singapore, Helsinki, Oslo, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin and London. The study’s authors note that some of the areas these cities excel in are affordability, accessibility, having trains/buses/etc. that come often, and keeping transit cars clean.
This Pole Matching The Traffic Light
I'm Polish and Hungarian so this made me lol! My husband is German so he won't get it.
Load More Replies...it probably greatly increases traffic safety, though. no push without some pull.
Load More Replies...Luminous Road Markings In Nantes, France
Wow. Around here you can barely see the lines in the middle of the day
I remember getting a parking ticket for parking in some sort of no parking space I can't remember exactly what it was BUT it had no markets or I argued the ticket
Load More Replies...Shame that the driver of the grey car can't see the lane dividier markings. /s
Imwish the us had these. Especially on rural roads that have no street lights
I live in Cornwall in the UK and it's all mainly single roads as I'm only wide enough for 1 car, you get a few passing spots here and there. But they are the best type of roads to drive. As you really get to drive, your not on a motorway going in a straight line with cruise control on
Load More Replies...A Stand For Bikers To Hold On To While Waiting For The Traffic Lights In Sweden
I don't know why, but I read "super cool" with a French accent.
Load More Replies...As somebody who bikes and runs in cities quite a lot, the majority of these would be so useful to have!
Why? Your feet can't reach the sidewalk to hold yourself up?
Load More Replies...I've seen these in the US but had no idea what they were for. I bet a lot of people don't.
I love this. But bikers where I live would first have to actually stop at the lights to use this. No one here stops at lights if they're on bikes. They just go right on through.
And neither do cars, at a much much greater risk to the safety of others. Also, I and many come to a legal stop and watch motorized vehicles "slow roll" right through.
Load More Replies...When it comes to the areas where places who are lagging behind in their public transportation offerings can improve, the study found that over half of the commuters in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom noted that affordability is key for them. Accessibility and safety tied for their second most important considerations. One city that has mastered these areas is Helsinki. “It’s multimodal, offering travel by bus, tram, metro, train, and ferry,” the study’s authors write. “A journey planner app, created by a startup in Helsinki, integrates and connects each of these different transport modes. A single ticket costs just over $3 and can be used on any travel mode.”
Another important factor to consider when it comes to how we get around is sustainability. The study’s authors note that Europe, particularly cities in Scandinavia, are the role models to look to when working on sustainable mobility. “Oslo, often called the electric vehicle capital of the world, leads that sub‑index for the second year in a row – and is not likely to give up that ranking any time soon, given the lead it has secured,” the authors of the study explain. “The city has a dense network of charging stations and provides a comprehensive package of incentives for electric vehicle owners, like cheaper toll fares and priority access to certain roads. Oslo is home to so many electric vehicle drivers that the city government has even begun dropping some incentives, like free parking, because those incentives are no longer necessary.”
This Traffic Light Shows How Long You Have To Wait
I prefer to have this light on my toaster in the morning!
Load More Replies...No it would enhance it as you are knowing when to start
Load More Replies...I really like these, would prefer one for the green light too. Or increase the blink time of green, it's only like 2 quick blinks here and it's already yellow.
Bangkok has these....and it's incredibly depressing when it's so hot out, you're in an overheating tuk tuk, and the number freezes at 90 cuz there's SO much traffic. I love you, Bangkok!
In my town (Florida, US) the crosswalks have countdown timers in seconds for when the intersecting light (mine if in a car) will turn green. I use that like this - do I have time to check or respond to that email/text before it's time to go?
Traffic Light With A Mirror To Allow The Drivers To See The Pedestrians/Cyclists That Are In Their Blind Spots
Also Needed in Canada!!! Especially for Motor Cycles we Often Miss Seeing!!
Luminous Bollards At A Pedestrian Crossing In France
I much prefer the ones higher up the list that illuminate when a pedestrian is near. If they are permanently on like this then after a few weeks the drivers are used to the lights and don't pay any more attention than before.
Sounds like a classy British insult. "Why you, you...luminous ballard!"
we got the same near my house, I feel like I’m in the future or in a video game when Im going this way :D
Wow, the Europeans are a lot better at road safety than we are in Canada. 🥴 Of course our climate hinders such innovations, but still.
Aside from public transportation and sustainable vehicles, it’s important for cities to cater to those who walk or cycle around as well. Electric bikes and scooters have become increasingly popular in recent years, but it’s hard to incentivize residents to use them if they don’t feel safe on their cities’ streets. That’s why gadgets like the ones featured on this list are so important. They can not only make all of our lives easier, they can also make us much safer. In the United States alone, there were an upsetting 6,516 pedestrian deaths during 2020, with New Mexico being the most dangerous state for pedestrians. And cyclists typically account for about 14% of the national, annual pedestrian fatalities. It’s heartbreaking to know that many of these tragedies could have been prevented with the proper infrastructure in place to keep these pedestrians safe.
Montpellier, France. Test Of A Bicycle Path With Photoluminescent Paint
Great idea as it would fade as the evening went on and limit light pollution
Genuine question - is photoluminescent paint bright enough to contribute to light pollution?
Load More Replies...This is my dream…a segregated bike path away from 2 tonne death machines.
That is the Colour Australians have chosen for Their Highways and Roads Lines!! Shows up even on the Foggiest Overcast Nights!!
A Button For Crossing The Road On A Horse
I doubt most BP get this. McCloud was an American Tv detective show from the 1970s. McCloud came from New Mexico and ends up working in New York City. He wore a cowboy hat and sometimes rode a horse. The show rotated with Columbo and "McMillian and Wife".
Load More Replies...Do they walk their horses on the sidewalk then? I don't see horses on the roads too often around here but when I do they are on the road like a bike. I tended to ride on the shoulder with my horse.
It's a road crossing. There's probably a trail on either side they ride on. We're definitely not allowed to walk horses on sidewalks where I live. We don't have traffic signals but we do have road signs that caution drivers at the places where horses/riders might be crossing.
Load More Replies...guess it depends on the horse. This one looks like for someone riding a Clydesdale.
These Green Rings Of Light Move At The Pace Of The Speed Limit To Help Gauge Speed
To be fair, I'd rather people were watching the road than their speedos, particularly with narrow lanes lake this.
Load More Replies...This is in Melbourne and I travel the tunnel everyday. This does not help.
Wouldn't people driving below the speed limit feel the urge to go faster?
hopefully yes., driving below the limit is dangerous
Load More Replies...An audit of pedestrian safety in Dallas, Texas, the city with the highest number of pedestrian fatalities in the US in 2020, found that a lack of resources and funding has resulted in crosswalks and pedestrian traffic signals that are severely in need of maintenance. Without anyone keeping up with these things that should be in place to keep us safe on the roads, being a pedestrian becomes extremely dangerous. There was also a study conducted in Phoenix to get to the bottom of why pedestrians are so unsafe there, and it identified “roadway and land-use characteristics” that make crashes more likely to happen, including limited crosswalks, frequent driveway access and signal equipment that needs to be updated.
In London The Road Tells You Which Way To Look For Traffic Coming
Exactly. Not doing that is just plain stupid; you can never know.
Load More Replies...It's 2023. I'm looking both ways even on a one-way street, because there are too many distracted drivers and entitled drivers.
Helpful because they drive on the opposite side of the road from most other countries, and if you grew up looking the other way, and try to cross the street? SQUISH!
Saw a couple of close calls with US visitors in Sydney. Not wired for the change.
Load More Replies...also some say "look both ways". We always joke they should write "LOOK OUT!!!"
Same in Hong Kong. Didn't stop me from following my instincts, looking the opposite direction and almost getting blasted by a car though. 🤣🤣
This Traffic Light On The Sidewalk For Pedestrians On Their Phones
Or, hear me out, people get their faces out of their phones and pay attention to their surroundings while crossing the road.
EXACTLY. Just f**k off with any accomodations for plank-starers. Get your face off the damn screen if you wish to live.
Load More Replies...Instead of lights, there should be a fly swatter smacking these people across the face.
I fully support that idea.
Load More Replies...There's always the one driver who'll ignore a red light or the one smartphone user with music so loud, they won't hear an emergency vehicle. This encourages people to decrease their situational awareness, I think this is a bad idea.
A friend of mine died in a hit-and-run when a taxi driver, distracted by his stupid effing phone, ran a red light and smashed into her full force as she was crossing in a crosswalk. He drove off, but there were witnesses and he was found pretty quickly. I have no patience or sympathy for people who use their phone while driving.
Load More Replies...If you can't look up long enough to pay attention to the lights, maybe a Darwin award is needed.
Look. I'll freely admit I'm addicted to my phone and on it pretty much all the time. However when crossing the street or waiting for the crosswalk I make sure to always pay attention to the lights just in case. Same reason I don't have my headphones on. Safety is important.
But Are the Walkers Glued to Their Phone Screens Actually Seeing that Warning? It Might be more Practical if a Siren Sounded from their Phones When They were Not Paying Attention!!
It is sad what phones have made us become. That we look at the ground whether we look around us. Sad
New French Concept Of A Luminous Bollard For The Pedestrian Crossings Where There's No Traffic Lights, It Turn On When Someone Is Detected
I applaud all these ideas so pedestrians have more lights, warnings etc. but it's the motorists mostly who cause problems. Raise them a bollard in front of a crossing and, trust me, they'll stop. Paying attention or with their nose in the phone, but they will stop.
I’m pretty sure this is to notify drivers of someone in the roadway, it don’t light up for pedestrians when there’s cars approaching but for cars when there are pedestrians
Load More Replies...Yeah but Drivers in Canada can't Read the Stop Sign Now & they are Lage Red Octagonal Sighs!!! They Read POTS not Stop!!!
This would be a great way for thugs to stop traffic so they can carjack someone.
When it comes to how pedestrian fatalities can be prevented, USA Facts explains that practical improvements such as adding more sidewalks and bike lanes can help protect people who aren’t in vehicles. It’s also wise to reduce speed limits in pedestrian-friendly areas and improve visibility. “Pedestrian crossing islands can help those with limited mobility cross a street safely,” USA Facts goes on to note. “Better signage, including rectangular rapid flash beacons on pedestrian signs and pedestrian countdown timers, can improve pedestrian decision-making and visibility.”
The Tactile Paving Changes Colours Depending On The Traffic Lights
Aren't those tactile paving aimed to blind people? Maybe I'm dumb but, I mean--
And for the visually impaired. People who might have a problem to see the traffic light on the other side of the road, but a glowing square below their feet works fine.
Load More Replies...That Just Encourages Folks to Not Pay Attention to their Surroundings at Traffic Lights!!
This is where I live, Melbourne. The button is more interesting though, because the PB/5 pedestrian button is considered to be the world's best designed.Please read this interesting article about our awesome traffic lights! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9395257/Inside-design-Australian-pedestrian-crossing-button-used-Billie-Eilish-song.html
Remote Control Used In France By Blind People To Activate The Sound System Of Pedestrian Traffic Lights
Why can't the traffic lights have sound originally, like in Japan?
Because it's really annoying after a while. My old workplace was right next to one of these traffic lights and in the summer, when the windows were open, the sound drove you up the wall
Load More Replies...This is standard in most cities for long. Just an updated version there
On the base of most UK crossing signal buttons is a little peg that spins to let blind deaf people know when to cross
Luminous Road Barrier
Who downvoted you? That was a great Star Wars reference!
Load More Replies...Might Help at Railway Crossings instead of having People Drive through them!!
we need these in front of streets washed out in storms...the # of humans who think going around them === back to Darwinism again...
If you’re curious about the cities around the globe that are the most pedestrian-friendly, we’ve got you covered. According to Culture Trip, the 10 most walkable cities in the world are Florence, New York City, Marrakech, Paris, Vancouver, Buenos Aires, Dubrovnik, Melbourne, Boston, and Vientiane. Now, you can feel free to have a different perspective, pandas, as I’m sure there are plenty of other pedestrian-friendly cities who didn’t make it on this list. But you are guaranteed to have an easy time getting around on foot in any of these locations!
This Kindergarten In Australia Enforcing A One Way Road With Spikes
Must have had a lot of issues here, that is not a common thing to install.
The mayor's brother owns the near by tyre shop.
Load More Replies...They should have installed a real crocodile instead of spikes so as to match the detail on the "Wrong Way Go Back" sign
They tried, but it got too expensive when the crocs unionized.
Load More Replies...I remember some petrol stations had these in Australia. Don’t pay = need new tyres.
These are everywhere in the UK, often in car parks do you can't leave the wrong way (ie without paying) but in all sorts of one-way situations
Wouldn't your tires get punctured if you went the correct direction as well? The spikes look like they'd work in both directions.
Spikes are angled away from the correct way drivers and lay down as a vehicle passes over them. Think spring loaded. LP_CloseUp...8e66aa.jpg
Dunkirk, France, Bus Stop Sign With The Waiting Time
Aren't these everywhere? I come from a crappy post communist country and we have them.
We have them at busy bus stops in Stockholm, Sweden. Bus stops where only a few people get on/off each day, not so much. The bus stop has a receiver and the bus a transmitter, which updates the waiting time on the sign.
Load More Replies...It's rather popular thing I think. Buses have gps tracking devices, you can even check their location with various commuting apps.
They implement this since a few years in Germany but only a few at a time so even in my city there are still many without the electronic part
We got them a couple of years ago and wow, 1 minute can be loooooong
Load More Replies...They have these all over NYC, major bus stops have had them since 2010, and by 2030 all bus stops in NYC will have them. You see them installing them all the time, but there are over 16,000 bus stops and that takes a while, especially given the cost. But in NYC you just download the app, and you can get live tracking of your bus down. And if you dont want the app, just text your stops 5 digit code to the MTA and you get an instant text back with the next bus for each route at that stop
Need these in Canada Too!! Boy Europe has Some really Dandy ways to Keep their Public Safe and in the Know!!
Height Sensor At A Tunnel. If A Vehicle Is Too High, Luminous Warning Signs Will Turn On
I was wondering if someone would reference this! The videos of the trucks losing their battles with that thing are really entertaining.
Load More Replies...*snort* Look up "Storrowing". Boston leads the world in this event.
My first thought was of Storrow Drive - "I know a few places that could use this!"
Load More Replies...Should Have them at All Overpasses on Highways too Cause Some Truckers just Don't Pay enough Attention!!
Seems to be mostly double decker buses that need it here, especially ones with school kids on
We have a couple of bridges here in Australia that could use this.. At least 1 truck a week hits a low bridge, even with multiple signs. LOL
If you’re wondering why it’s so important for cities to be walkable, we’ve consulted this article from Congress for the New Urbanism that explains some of the top social benefits that come from pedestrian-friendly cities. First of all, being able to walk places promotes healthier, active lifestyles. This can also improve residents’ happiness and mental health, as walking raises endorphin levels, lowers cortisol levels and can even help us sleep better. Being more active also reduces obesity and helps fight off chronic diseases, so let’s get moving! Being out and about in a walkable city encourages social interaction as well, which can lead to a friendlier, more inviting and safe city. Plus, the more people that are on the streets, the less people there are in cars, which can greatly reduce the number of automobile accidents.
This Hourglass Shaped Traffic Light
Street racers love this intersection. Also, color-blind people absolutely love the subtle gray that the hourglass.
Street Light Modified To Accommodate 4 Surveillance Cameras. Paris, France
So rather than shining the light for you, they're now shining the light on you.
Oooh! Nice! Citizen money being used to spy in the citizens any time the leave the house! 😬
Bumpy Plates For Blind People, Everywhere In France, I Hope It's The Same For The Other Countries Too
They're in Ireland as well. I honestly thought they were standard all over the world lol
Load More Replies...They have these most places where I live. There's also some crosswalks that make a beeping or clicking sound so that blind people know when it's safe to cross.
Pretty common in the US. At least in WA state but I think all over. At least in new construction stuff. Not everything is retrofitted (some have been). TBH, didn't used to know these were for blind people. On ours, at the same time they were installing gentle sort of ramps for wheel chairs and it is the surface of the ramped area that has the bumps. So I thought it was for traction for the wheel chair wheels when the pavement was wet. (rains a lot here)
Being out and about can lead to a decrease in crime as well. “In Rotterdam, Holland, community members identified traffic speed and street appearance as crime issues,” the CNU explains. “Working with police to improve the public realm dramatically cut crime over a period of two years: drug crime dropped by 30 percent, burglary by 22 percent, and vandalism by 31 percent.”
Walkable cities can also do wonders in broadening universal accessibility and encouraging inclusiveness. “Everyone, at some point, is a pedestrian. Successful public transportation generally begins and ends with a walking trip,” the CNU notes. “Even those who generally drive will find themselves on a crosswalk from time to time. Especially people without a car may be able to easily access their daily needs in a walkable community. Boosting walking helps to unlock the city for many of those who are most in need.”
This U-Turn Only Traffic Light
Hey fellow Melbournians- when do we tell 'em about hook turns?? Right hand turn from left lane, going once the light is red. Hold on to ya hats, close your eyes and GO GO GO!!!
The red one is lit in the picture because it's a red light for the U-turn, meaning don't do that now. Notice there are two more lights for the yellow and green lights. We have these in a few places in the US too
Load More Replies...Metal Equipment That Allow Cyclists To Stand Up Straight While Being Stationary Waiting For The Green Light. Spain
Some of us do wait for the light to go green... But I agree about it being a waste of time (and money) putting in these things...
Load More Replies...I've used these and they're nice, but usually just one cyclist is able to use them, so not that useful.
Why can't they just put their feet on the floor, like they do pretty much everywhere else on the planet?
I was going to say what cyclists actually follow traffic laws anyways?
Local city laws (regulations) allow bikes to ignore traffic lights in certain situations
If you can't reach the ground standing up, your bike is too tall for you
"Incoming Bus" Luminosities Sign, When A City Bus Is Coming, The Sign Is Turned On To Warn The Drivers, France
That would be nice where I live… the bus is always late so you never know when it’ll show up
I don’t know about you, pandas, but I’m certainly jealous of all of the cities who have these fabulous gadgets that make pedestrians’ and drivers’ lives easier. We hope you’re enjoying this list and that you’re getting some ideas of what to start pestering your local city planners about. Keep upvoting the tools you find most appealing, and let us know in the comments if your city has already implemented any of this technology. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article featuring excellent examples of urban planning, look no further than right here!
Luminous Direction Sign In Paris
We Have Street Names that illuminate at night Driving in Vancouver!! Very Helpful as Sign on the Edge of the Roads & Streets are very Hard to see & Read!!
Special Light For Pedestrian Crossing, Belgium
No, it's a spotlight that throws literal and emotional shade on you by following the other person in the crosswalk and ignoring you.
Load More Replies...Controlled Access Area System In Amsterdam, Netherlands
We have these in the UK, often for buses to come into town centres. It is hilarious when a car follows the bus and the bollard comes up under the car. /s
I once heard (and saw the aftermath) when one of these rising bollards came up under and ambulance when it was trying to access the shopping area near me. I do hope the person they were going to wasn't too seriously ill!
Load More Replies...So, I live in The Hague, Netherlands and they put one of these at a hospital zone that was temporarily a through street during construction (right at the end of my street). Since it was installed over a year or so ago, more than 50 vehicles have crashed into it because they are trying to coast through on the tails of ambulances or busses for which the bollards will go down. This is despite very clear signage and even traffic control agents at times. It’s known as the “Horror Poller” and has its own Twitter and a song written about it. They’ve since deactivated it, because it had cost the city nearly a million euros in repairs/replacing it when it got hit.
We have that where I work, so us plebs don't try to access the underground carpark
Yellow Covers To Increase The Visibility Of Bollards During An Event
Bollards often hit delicate man parts if they aren't looking, so you are close :)
Load More Replies...May I suggest paying a bit more attention when you're operating a thousand-pound machine?
Load More Replies...Why do they only need to be yellow during events? Why not just always yellow? Are they retractable?
Yeah, it's not a pretty sight when event goers start going at the bollards. Just going at 'em. HARD. Very messy.
Bollard That Displays The Remaining Allowed Parking Time For Cars (30 Minutes For Each Car). France
This seems like it would only be helpful to folks writing tickets… 🤣
Isn't there an app by now Alerting you to your meter? Probably not because then the government and city would lose millions in parking fines
It's better than having to go up to the head and trying to make out how much time you have left. Just a glance in your cars direction will tell ya.
Colourful Crosswalk, France
We have at least one crossing like that in Atlanta. Occasionally some @s$hole vandalizes them, but workers always repaint them.
Load More Replies...Luminous Bollards That Change Of Color Depending Of The Pedestrian Signal Color. La Défense, France
This one I don't understand because where I live the pedestrians on a crosswalk have always the right of the way / drivers have to look and stop for them on crosswalks, period.
I think that everywhere, except when there are controlled crosswalk lights, but anytime someone is walking on a crosswalk you have to stop and let them go, I mean in any situation what are you gonna do just plow threw them?🤦♂️
Load More Replies...Some Drivers in Canada are too busy on their Cell Phones to Watch anything Around them at All!!
What I have learned from this list is that the French LOVE luminous bollards.
Pedestrian Crossing + Bicycle Crossing In France
Do cyclists actually pay attention and use it correctly? Or do they just weave around through people and traffic like they do everywhere else?
If it's in Paris, neither cyclists nor pedestrians respect any traffic lights.
Load More Replies...Nice Idea if used Properly!! In Canada Our Bicycle Lanes Should Actually be Next to the Sidewalks & Parking Spaces Out that Little nit Further!!Still using the Same Amount of Space but Cyclists would Certainly be Safer Riding their Bikes!!
Bicycle riders in San Francisco go whenever and wherever they want. They'll knock down a pedestrian or cut off a vehicle if it's in their way. The police do nothing.
French Pedestrian Signal Used For Some Ski Lift
Skiing with a golf club or skiing with a pipe wrench is what I interpret it as.
Load More Replies...Lighting Of The "Tunnel Du Mont Blanc" , France, In The 60s
I see a Citroen DS, one of the most beautiful (and comfortable) cars ever built (R hand side at the front, blue with a white top)
And there are two exemplars of the great 404 - the African continent is still littered with its carcasses. The fenders in front leading to the headlights, as well as rear ones leading to the taillights, had creases on top, and where the crease ended the car ended (from the driver's point of view) which made it the easiest car to parallel-park in the tiniest spaces. My brother inherited a Peugeot 404 hearse and swears it's the most reliable car ever built (I disagree - my vote goes to the 2002 BMW 325i). My mother hated it because it had "a certain smell" (Duh! It was a hearse, and there is always *some* leakage in a hearse).
Load More Replies...Fun fact: a well designed tunnel will have two light levels, bright for day and dim for night. This allows the light level to stay close to what you had before and after the tunnel, so you aren't blinded either in or on the way out!
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is one of the world's most iconic stretches of road. About 12 km and 15ish minutes take you between France and Italy. I'd love to do it again...in that classic Citroen.
Multiple Heights Road Barrier
If the taller vehicles are allowed through then why don't they just make the whole barrier the tallest height???
Different lanes diverge to different destinations I think
Load More Replies...He had two cats, a big cat and a little cat. So he cut two holes in his wall, a big one for the big cat and a little one for the little cat.
French Pedestrian Signal LED Panels
Road Separator Sign Used In France, It Can Bend In Case Of Accident
That’s actually a European norm : every road sign close to a traffic lane has to be made to easily bend if crashed into.
... most of them are broken afterwards. These will just stand up again.
Load More Replies...In the US it was realized that making support posts indestructible caused an increase in traffic deaths so they made them break-away
Looks like it's a good thing that it was made to bend, scratches a evidence
Rubber Pole To Limit The Danger For The Bicyclists/Bikers And For A Better Durability Against Small Impacts
Pedestrian Light / Bike Light Mix, Spain
Via Linea Range Of Road Signs, Integrated Screen Version
Wood Guardrail
Article title: “40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World”… I’m not sure a wooden board bolted to a guardrail is a “gadget”… XD
Road Sign Fixed On The Traffic Light Poles In France That Allow The Bikes To Cross A Red Light To Follow The Arrow
This is "modern civilisation" at its best: we had 1 fixed rule in traffic and that was: never cross a red light. (USA did not have that and is introducing in many districts). But now in 202x we know better and break that rule. Life must be complicated, otherwise it's not fun. Or something like that.
Yellow Arrow In France. Allow You To Run A Red Light If You Go In The Same Way Than What The Arrow Indicate
Traffic Light Integrated Into A Metal Box With A Sign + A Light Under It For The Pedestrian Crossing. From France
But don't you have to always stop for pedestrians on a crosswalk? So there should be no need for a traffic light...in my opinion this may make situations tougher if there is a crosswalk without a traffic light because drivers are then used to look for the light, not for the people...I don't know how to put this in words, but I hope you understand what I want to say
There are many types of crossings in France and the rest of Europe, some of them controlled with red lights, some of them with permanent or time-specific flashing amber lights, some, like most in France, have nothing at all, and although cars are supposed to give way it would be a brave pedestrian who assumed they would do so.
Load More Replies...Parking Luminous Sign
"48 Brilliant Gadgets From Cities Around the World", apparently the world is just Europe and France.
That’s where most of the innovations come from.. Should 18 lanes highways in the middle of a city, from the USA or China, be part of this list? That’s what I thought.
Load More Replies...Many of these are common all over Europe, and probably outside of Europe too, not just specific cities. Like parking spot indicators, pedestrian crossing lights, crossings for cyclists, electronic bus timetables, etc. Makes me wonder. Are these not common in the US?
Around DC area, some of these innovations are being installed, but they're not common outside of nicer parts of town
Load More Replies...Pity the list didn't have the height warning gantry used in Melbourne to try to stop trucks and buses attempting to drive under the Montague Street Bridge and getting stuck
One thing not on the list, and very common in France, is to have a little traffic light below the big one, so you don't have to crane your neck to see if the lights change. (Love that) Also, temporary traffic lights will tell you how long you have to wait in seconds. And then there are traffic lights elsewhere which are mounted on the opposite side of the road where you are stopping, so you can see them no matter what is in front of you. (Lorry anyone?)
It's the 21st century. Why can't we have cameras/sensors detecting if someone is still in the crosswalk to decide how much longer to hold the light? Handicapped/elderly people would appreciate the automatic duration extension. Drivers would appreciate the automatic duration shortening when a cyclist presses the walk button and crosses in 5 seconds. It would also help reduce idiot drivers stopping in the crosswalk, once it became common knowledge that a car covering up part of the crosswalk could be mistaken for a pedestrian, causing that car's light to stay red for the maximum duration.
Because kids who have nothing better to do would stand in the crosswalk and watch the cars back up.
Load More Replies...In the US we have an app called Be My Eyes. You register your phone number and if a blind person needs help ( for instance, I helped a lady find the chips she wanted at the grocery store) the app will call your phone like face time and you help them with what they need. It's cool!
Minnesota has their stop signs painted red in the back. Really helpful at 4ways.
"48 Brilliant Gadgets From Cities Around the World", apparently the world is just Europe and France.
That’s where most of the innovations come from.. Should 18 lanes highways in the middle of a city, from the USA or China, be part of this list? That’s what I thought.
Load More Replies...Many of these are common all over Europe, and probably outside of Europe too, not just specific cities. Like parking spot indicators, pedestrian crossing lights, crossings for cyclists, electronic bus timetables, etc. Makes me wonder. Are these not common in the US?
Around DC area, some of these innovations are being installed, but they're not common outside of nicer parts of town
Load More Replies...Pity the list didn't have the height warning gantry used in Melbourne to try to stop trucks and buses attempting to drive under the Montague Street Bridge and getting stuck
One thing not on the list, and very common in France, is to have a little traffic light below the big one, so you don't have to crane your neck to see if the lights change. (Love that) Also, temporary traffic lights will tell you how long you have to wait in seconds. And then there are traffic lights elsewhere which are mounted on the opposite side of the road where you are stopping, so you can see them no matter what is in front of you. (Lorry anyone?)
It's the 21st century. Why can't we have cameras/sensors detecting if someone is still in the crosswalk to decide how much longer to hold the light? Handicapped/elderly people would appreciate the automatic duration extension. Drivers would appreciate the automatic duration shortening when a cyclist presses the walk button and crosses in 5 seconds. It would also help reduce idiot drivers stopping in the crosswalk, once it became common knowledge that a car covering up part of the crosswalk could be mistaken for a pedestrian, causing that car's light to stay red for the maximum duration.
Because kids who have nothing better to do would stand in the crosswalk and watch the cars back up.
Load More Replies...In the US we have an app called Be My Eyes. You register your phone number and if a blind person needs help ( for instance, I helped a lady find the chips she wanted at the grocery store) the app will call your phone like face time and you help them with what they need. It's cool!
Minnesota has their stop signs painted red in the back. Really helpful at 4ways.
