“Escalators On The Sidewalks”: 50 Impressive Things Countries Implemented That Left People In Awe (New Pics)

In a world where anti-billionaire sentiments are growing stronger with each passing day, Finland's income-based system for fines seems like a dream to many. And it's not just speeding that it's applied to. Shoplifting, breaking securities, and financial trading laws are also fined depending on the person's income. The logic is the same as with progressive taxes: if you earn more, you should be fined more.

In 2023, a multimillionaire Finnish businessman Anders Wiklöf, 76, was fined almost $140k for driving 18.6 mph over the limit. His speed was 82km/h in a zone with a 50km/h limit. It wasn't his first time getting fined like this: in 2018, he got a fine of $730k, and $110k in 2013.

That only made his third offence worse, but the businessman wasn't salty about it. "I have heard the government wants to save €1.5bn on healthcare in Finland, so I hope that my money can fill a gap there," he said.

Tactile models of famous architectural sites like the one in Wroclaw are popping up in other parts of the world as well. The WHO estimates that about 2.2 billion people in the world have some kind of vision impairment. So, these tactile models really shouldn't be just "a cool feature" but the norm.

Recently, social media influencer James Charles went viral for his ignorant video about tactile pavement in the U.S. The YouTuber apparently didn't know that the yellow truncated domes help visually impaired people to detect key points in public areas. Charles was shamed by other netizens so much that he took his video down later.

The Roman house under the Trevi fountain in Italy was excavated in the late 1990s. Actually, there's an entire apartment complex under there! Called Vicus Caprarius, or the City of Water, it's an archaeological site that tourists can visit for around $4 only.

The pools still fill up with water thanks to the ingenious aqueduct system of Rome. Archaeologists say that it dates back to the first century and is a glimpse into the lives of upper-class Romans.

The 'Influencer-free zones' in Belfast are not the only ones in the world. In 2019, there was an unofficial campaign in the NYC subway system where you could see the stickers titled "Influencer free zone" on the ticket machines.

The campaign was the work of artist Joseph Grazi and he titled it "Culture Cures." "With the rise of 'the influencer,' individual comparison is at an all time high, and thus, morale, at an all time low. Comparison is the chief destroyer of joy, and today's culture seems to show just that."

"And while we've always sought validation, it was usually for our achievements. Now the achievement IS the validation. Celebrity. Beauty. The coveted blue verified check that has become the cross of social media's religion. Just as worshiped. And the closer one is, the more special and validated they feel." Grazi's mission was to turn the attention back from the 'influencer' to the 'follower.'

Don't we all wish someone told us how to be adults once we've turned 18? Although the phrase is cliche, adulting really is hard. The book contains chapters on how to manage your finances (how to pay bills, take out loans, etc.), recipes for healthy meals, how to choose the right education and career path, and how to get a job or start a business.

There are also tutorials on how to wash your clothes, how to pass a driver's test and buy a car, how and when to move out of your house, and many more life lessons.

The pic of the manhole cover in Wiesbaden, Germany, might look cool at first glance. But when you look at it closer, you notice that there are stairs leading underground. Unfortunately, it's not a Batcave; that's an entrance point to the city's waste water system. Here's a cool picture of what it looks like underneath!

You don't have to be a germaphobe to be grossed out about sinks in public bathrooms. So, these knee-activated water taps at a supermarket in Italy look pretty neat. Sinks are the second dirtiest place in a public bathroom after the floor in front of the toilet. Yet, surprisingly, the toilet seat itself is the least gross area!

Which one of these little features did you find the most impressive, Pandas? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. And if you have a neat similar thing you saw during a vacation abroad, don't hesitate and share it with us too. While you're here, check out our previous lists of cool city features here and here!

Be careful though – some of them might make you seriously consider moving there!