Bike Contrail

Imagine if bicyclists were able to leave a playful trace of their path as they are riding, allowing them to be more visible to passing motorists and pedestrians. That’s just what the Contrail design concept is all about.

By leaving a ‘unique mark’ upon the roadway that bicycles use, it allows bicyclists to leave a trace in the built environment that they ride in, just like cars do with oil slicks, tire marks and potholes. With this simple human powered device, bicycles can turn the pavement into a work of art.

A mechanism like this can also be used as a great teaching tool, challenging people to ride in a straight line as they check over their shoulder, keeping kids riding within lines that you create, and much much more.

The environmental impact of putting chalk on the ground might be something to take into account, as water from our roadways goes to our storm drains, which head back to our oceans. Not to mention the fact that it turns the zero emission bicycle, and creates an unnecessary output from i.

No word on the production of it yet, but you can check out their website here. The design is part of a larger competition held by Design21, Power to the Pedal.

  1. Pepin Gelardi says:

    Hey, thanks for the post! We’re working to bring Contrail to non-profits and other groups so we can start coloring the roads. We’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign and we’d love it if you’d help us make Contrail a reality. https://kck.st/cOuSjZ