View the submissions here
Which ideas can I vote for – and how do I vote?
On this page, you will find all submissions from the Bicycle Innovation Lab. Scroll down and click on the various entries for a brief overview.
How does voting work?
Until the 30th of April you could vote for your favourite submission. However, the voting is now closed. The Top-10 was announced on the following page.
The central theme of the Bicycle Innovation Lab 2023
For the second Amsterdam Bike City Bicycle Innovation Lab, we asked for innovative solutions that improve social safety for cyclists. Because no matter how fun and healthy cycling is, it is not always experienced as pleasant. Think of cycling in the dark, being called after, or aggression between road users. With the theme of ‘social safety’ we want to improve the cycling experience in the region. Read the entries below and vote! Do you want to know more about the Bicycle Innovation Lab? You can find all information on this page.
Place cyclists in the ‘green’ spotlight!
We suggest an experiment to give cyclists at traffic lights maximum ‘green time’ and cars minimum ‘green time’. Car routes that currently get 60-80 seconds of green light, will get only 40 seconds of green light in our experiment. Bicycle routes will get till 20 seconds of green light. Waiting time for cyclists is then diminished with almost fifty percent per traffic light. Count your winnings!
Because of the great impact of the experiment on car traffic, we will only change the waiting time once or twice a year. For example, on the first day after summer holidays when schools start. We will not experiment around crowdy car traffic routes or near highways. We hope that our experiment will contribute to:
- a change in behavior for both parents with kids that go to school, and for the motorists/car drivers who must wait at this day for the cyclists.
- a change in the Amsterdam traffic system in the long run. Cars will no longer be central at intersections, but cyclists will be.
Welcome in Amsterdam, we have bikes and rules
The municipality of Amsterdam has to deal with an increasing number of tourists in the city, which causes ‘growing pains’ such as crowds and difficulties for residents. Amsterdam is a bicycle-friendly city, but the lack of knowledge about the traffic rules among tourists makes cycling in the city dangerous for both residents and tourists.
A solution to this problem is to place video animations in which the traffic rules in Amsterdam are explained in a simple and understandable way. These videos can be posted at strategic locations where tourists enter the city, such as the baggage belts at Schiphol and the screens at the train and metro stations. In this way, tourists can easily take note of the traffic rules and safety on the cycle paths can be improved.
Amsterdam is becoming increasingly bicycle-friendly, and that is a good development, but it is also crucial that tourists are also aware of the traffic rules to prevent dangerous situations. By distributing these video animations, the municipality of Amsterdam can improve the safety of all road users and contribute to a better and safer living environment for both residents and tourists.
Where are all those cyclists heading to?
This intervention offers a solution to (social) unsafety on the bike paths in Amsterdam. By (social) unsafety, we mean accidents, irritation, aggression, and the fact that people show little consideration for each other and are mainly concerned with themselves.
Through three physical signs on a fixed bike route, people are challenged to step out of their internal bubble and seek more contact with other bike path users. The ultimate goal is for people to start a short conversation with each other when they have to wait a moment for other traffic, such as at a traffic light. Combined with posters distributed throughout the city with the same message, people are enticed to seek more contact with each other. Through this contract, anonymity is reduced, people will be more considerate of each other, and there will be less irritation or aggression, which will improve (social) insecurity on the busy bike paths.
Hidden gem of bike safety
Summary of the problem: Based on statistics, almost three quarters of the cyclist fatalities and over half the seriously injured cyclists are aged 60 or over. Among reasons of accidents there are: high speed, loosing attention, road conditions, various distractions, turn without looking, running a red light or stop sign. Important to note, that only 18% of cyclists wear helmets, but based on personal experience almost no one in Amsterdam does. Although helmet is proven to be a very good safety measure in case of accident.
Summary of the solution: to run strong advertisement campaign to promote wearing of helmets, with the emphasis on inflatable helmet and elderly audience.
The polite bell
Cycling in busy cities such as Amsterdam can be dangerous for cyclists, even when they are using bike lanes or pedestrianised streets. There is the risk of other cyclists and pedestrians moving into the path of a cyclist, and causing a collision. A bell may alert others of oncoming traffic, but ringing your bell can sometimes be perceived as aggressive and scare others. Shouting has the same disadvantages, and not everyone can understand it. The solution is The Polite Bell, a bicycle bell that combines a traditional ringing bell with a spoken message, such as “Excuse me!” that can be heard from 25 metres away. The Polite Bell can be used to alert other road users of the cyclists’ presence without alarming them, and can be set to quieter or louder, for cycling on shared paths. The Polite Bell thus helps the safe mixing of cycling and pedestrian traffic on shared routes.
Protect your ride with HELMETA
HELMETA is an innovative helmet design that addresses three crucial safety concerns for riders, other road uses (pedestrians, and cyclists) while protecting the bicycle.
The helmet’s primary function is to ensure the wearer’s safety, and it accomplishes this by providing optimal protection to the head, including the forehead, temples, and the back of the head, which are the most vulnerable areas during an impact.
HELMETA also features an LED light system that enhances the wearer’s visibility to other road users, especially during low-light conditions, increasing overall road safety.
Additionally, HELMETA is designed to protect the bicycle. It can transform into a bike locker, reducing the risk of damage and theft. Furthermore, HELMETA has a georeference sensor that detects when the helmet is locked with the bike, making it easy to locate the helmet.
In summary, HELMETA provides a comprehensive solution to safety concerns for riders, other road users, and the bicycle. Its advanced features make it an ideal choice for anyone looking for maximum protection and security while cycling.
