40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World That Should Be Implemented Everywhere

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40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World That Should Be Implemented Everywhere

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Nov 13, 2023

40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World That Should Be Implemented Everywhere

Not your original work? Add source 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

Not your original work? Add source

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.

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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%).

neroina Report

This should be everywhere! It is such a great concept.

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reddit.com Report

Need this everywhere

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Kemro59 Report

It is the little things that can help the most

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.

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ROMANTHEKING Report

Also a Hungarian and an Irishman.

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Kemro59 Report

Wow. Around here you can barely see the lines in the middle of the day

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medmik Report

This is super cool

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.”

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reddit.com Report

As long as it’s not light the “applying your update” screen.

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Kemro59 Report

Amsterdam :)

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Kemro59 Report

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.

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.

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Kemro59 Report

Great idea as it would fade as the evening went on and limit light pollution

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eighteightfivesix Report

McCloud would have welcomed that

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j2t2_387 Report

If only speedometers existed to help gauge the speed.

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.

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dfac921 Report

It's a UK thing, not only London.

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imayneverknow Report

Or, hear me out, people get their faces out of their phones and pay attention to their surroundings while crossing the road.

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Kemro59 Report

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.

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.”

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Artichoke-Arti Report

Aren't those tactile paving aimed to blind people? Maybe I'm dumb but, I mean--

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Kemro59 Report

Why can't the traffic lights have sound originally, like in Japan?

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Kemro59 Report

It's a laser sabre, cuts the cars that have not paid

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!

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EveningFold3107 Report

Must have had a lot of issues here, that is not a common thing to install.

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Kemro59 Report

Aren't these everywhere? I come from a crappy post communist country and we have them.

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Kemro59 Report

Too late, I just ripped my truck's roof at the tunnel. 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.

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--Abby-- Report

Street racers love this intersection. Also, color-blind people absolutely love the subtle gray that the hourglass.

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Kemro59 Report

I can see 5 cameras.

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Kemro59 Report

Yes, in uk

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.”

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punkandpixels Report

They are in Australia too

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Kemro59 Report

Waste of time, cyclists don't wait for the green light anyway.

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Kemro59 Report

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!

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Kemro59 Report

This tastes old, it's from the 80's i think

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Kemro59 Report

Unless it's a spotlight that follows me exclusively, I don't want it

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Kemro59 Report

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

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Kemro59 Report

bollard condoms, I love it! be safe people.

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Kemro59 Report

This seems like it would only be helpful to folks writing tickets… 🤣

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Kemro59 Report

Green would like to have a word about this

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Kemro59 Report

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.

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Kemro59 Report

Do cyclists actually pay attention and use it correctly? Or do they just weave around through people and traffic like they do everywhere else?

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Kemro59 Report

I don't ski so I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean.

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Kemro59 Report

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)

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Kemro59 Report

why? A height barrer should block access to vehilcess taller than that... So what is the purpose of this?

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Kemro59 Report

In someone's home...?

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Kemro59 Report

That’s actually a European norm : every road sign close to a traffic lane has to be made to easily bend if crashed into.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

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Adelaide Ross is a writer at Bored Panda. She is originally from Texas and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from Oklahoma City University. In the years since her graduation, she has lived in Los Angeles, Sweden, England and now Lithuania. In her free time, Adelaide enjoys traveling, experimenting with new vegan recipes, taking long walks in parks (wearing plenty of SPF!) and crafting the perfect glass of cold brew.

Photo editor at Bored Panda. Mindaugas has worked as a freelance photographer mainly doing events, product photography and has a recurring passion for macro photography.

"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.

No. But ... quite a lot of these have been around for years, but it took actual years before they became a thing more than just locally. I doubt that this always is to be considered a means to make them safe and prove that in every case - in some, sure may be - but that the less mobility information had in previous decades made it unknown to the rest of the world, although it might have benefitted from it. After all, we all want a traffic infrastructure that is efficient and safe, these are the main goals of any system of that kind anyway ... like, the waiting time on the bus stop. Are a thing in germany since about 20 years, they became common in newly built bus or tram stops roughly 10...20 years ago - almost no new builds without. If you do know you will have to wait 11 minutes, you can go into the grocery store by the bus stop for some well-planned midsize haul, and still get home at the same time, but if you don't know the one before already has departed and the one you wait for is a tad delayed, you will not do so and go out again to buy your stuff. Traffic lights adapting to demand allow the most passages per time without risking accidents. Synchronized schedules of busses, trams and the like reduce waiting time - for something you do daily to get to work, this adds up. I always calculated how long I'd be off home, not how long I am at work, and knowing that I won't need 10 extra minutes for pointless waitery did make the difference that made me decide to use bus and tram every day, and only use the car in case of oversleeping, emergency or other plans, but not as a means to only get myself to work. And so on. I'm also convinced that a highway of 18 lanes inside a city is a major indicator that something may have outgrown something else, and the problems are a lot deeper and harder to uproot than having a bad algorithm on one intersection, or bus stops that somehow suck ... you can easily add those blind peoples' coordination tiles in most places, but an entire city that has grown uplanned, into a size nobody has anticipated when the major decisions were to make, ... is something that will come up in EVERY huge city around the world - a repurposation of many highway lanes, especially in limited-space-areas like cities, will eventually happen, but has to be made possible and feasible before ... of course ... having no public transport that is anywhere near usable, like many US cities, isn't what opens up such options, but closes them off right away. Public transport, on a side note, was being preferred in eastern germany, due to being dependant on imported energy - mainly oil back then, the superior efficiency of a Tram made them a given for every city it could be built within, and many of them work great, still, because they couldn't afford to import all that much oil from USSR, also didn't really have a supply of cars matching the demand, both in regard to number and quality of the vehicles (a Trabant was just a shiddy car ... they used way too much gas for what they offered, their exhaust gases were among the dirtiest of all cars around, and their performance sucked in each, any, every regard), so they resorted to Tram ("Straßenbahn", = Street Train, roughly...). They did it right for the wrong reasons, while in the US ... at least somebody may have had a good intention when deciding on those 18-lane-atrocities ... lobbying may have played a role, too ... so they, kind of, did the wrong for reasons one at least can try to consider being right, ... Anyway, analyzing everything we can, applying whatever is good and matches with the surrounding and removing whatever proved itself being bad, whenever it isn't needed anymore - sometimes, even bad things need a replacement before being taken out of order - should be a standard by now, with hundreds of cities with 6 or 7 figure population, some founded millenia ago, some mere years ago, we should have any and every knowledge and experience we need to at least improve every major flaw we find in urban infrastructure by now. But, the science behind it ... is a bit boring. Playing Sim City is more fun than calculating traffic light period durations, ... sure so ...

TL;DR

Oh! I forgot to add that the electric traffic light was invented in the United States. The first one was installed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914. The first three-colored, four-way light was installed in 1920 in Detroit. Los Angeles set up the first automated lights that same year. Computer-controlled lights were set up in Denver in 1952. There’s more, but I’m tired. Have a great day!

All that your comment tells me is that you don’t know much about other parts of the world. Also, do you live in Switzerland? Because that’s the only country in the world that ranks higher in the Global Innovation Index than the United States. If you do, congrats! But it still wouldn’t explain your implication that the only “innovation’ the U.S. has to offer is multi-lane highways. By the way, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but most American freeways are about 4 lanes on each side.

I’m not sure where you got any of that, but - no.

Elita, newsflash France is in Europe!

France is a part of Europe, so it’s really all Europe.

Misleading title. Basically not really gadgets but different takes on n road signs and traffic signals??

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

There are pedestrian crossing lights at most intersections but not the fancy stuff that y'all have

US cities are built for cars and not pedestrians unfortunately

They are not

"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.

TL;DR

I’m not sure where you got any of that, but - no.

Elita, newsflash France is in Europe!

France is a part of Europe, so it’s really all Europe.

Misleading title. Basically not really gadgets but different takes on n road signs and traffic signals??

Around DC area, some of these innovations are being installed, but they're not common outside of nicer parts of town

There are pedestrian crossing lights at most intersections but not the fancy stuff that y'all have

US cities are built for cars and not pedestrians unfortunately

They are not

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40 Interesting Gadgets From Cities Around The World That Should Be Implemented Everywhere