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

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.      

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.”

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.     

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.   

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.”

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!   

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.     

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.”

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!