The Latest From BostonBiker.org

News, Events, Updates


OH MY GOD! Can We Please Have This Right Now!

Written by Boston Biker on Aug 05

In Stockholm they have a lottery for good drivers funded by the fines given to bad drivers!  THIS IS THE BEST IDEA EVER!

 

Dear city of Boston,

Please please please set up a system by which citizens can submit fun ideas to help make the city better, and then DO THEM!

<3 Boston Biker

Via the star:
The winning idea of the fun theory award, The Speed Camera Lottery, is tested on the streets in Stockholm, Sweden.

The winning idea of the fun theory award, The Speed Camera Lottery, is tested on the streets in Stockholm, Sweden.

The mere mention of photo radar can set motorists’ teeth gnashing, but what if a portion of the money collected from speeders went into a lottery for law-abiding drivers?

Lifted your foot off the pedal a bit?

Meet the Speed Camera Lottery designed by Kevin Richardson: Senior Producer at Nickelodeon by day and innovative traffic controller by night.

“All the attention seems to go on the bad apples – the people who are breaking the law – and there’s really no attention given to the people obeying the law,” said Richardson in an interview with the Star. “In fact, I would posit that obeying the law is a pretty lonely endeavour.”

Richardson’s speed camera photographs the licence plates of drivers doing the speed limit, as well as those who are speeding.

“The people who are obeying the law will have one of their licence plates pulled (in a lottery) and receive a portion of the money collected from those who were speeding,” explains Richardson.

Earlier this year, the Speed Camera Lottery won The Fun Theory contest. Devised by advertising agency DDB for Volkswagen, the contest challenges inventors to solve a social problem, such as littering and speed-limit adherence, in a way that is, well, enjoyable.

Remember last year’s Internet hit the Piano Staircase? It’s that competition.

Richardson, a father of three who lives in San Francisco, was inspired to create the Speed Camera Lottery after seeing three children struck by cars while riding their bikes.

“Applying the Fun Theory to traffic safety, I asked myself: Could we get drivers to slow down through fun?”

It seems the answer is yes.

Richardson’s design was placed on a street in Stockholm in an experiment that ended in November. The average speed of traffic on the street before the experiment was 32 kilometres per hour. The average speed during the experiment was 25 km/h, a 22 per cent reduction.

“This is a really positive thing – drive legally and earn money. Perfect!” one motorist is heard saying on a Fun Theory video.

One lucky motorist received a $20,000 krona ($3,000) cheque.


submit OH MY GOD!  Can We Please Have This Right Now! to reddit.com Add to Reddit.

Tags: ,
Posted in advocacy | 5 Comments »

The Word On The Street

  • RSS Here is what people are saying

    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • Where bicycles are prohibited in Massachusetts August 16, 2023
      TweetThe main issue you will confront if you get into a dispute with police over bicycle prohibitions is whether the prohibition is supported by law. Often it is not. Example: the ramp from Commonwealth Avenue to Route 128 northbound and … Continue reading →
      jsallen
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • It’s Finally Happening! 5th Annual Hot Cocoa Ride Feb 12! February 8, 2022
      ... Continue reading →
      commonwheels
    • Hello world! June 9, 2021
      Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! Continue reading →
      thecommunityspoke
    • Run The Jewels Lead Free Pewter Hand Carved And Cast Pin Set January 3, 2021
      Made these lovely RTJ fist and gun pin set. Hand carved in wax, and then cast in lead free pewter.  Because these are made by hand you can do fun things like add an extra small pin so that they sit just so (also means they have “customized” brass back plates to accommodate the extra […]
      Boston Biker
    • My Work In The Wild: Feather Head Badge With Chris King Headset January 3, 2021
      One of my customers sent me this amazing picture of my feather badge installed on their (awesome!) bike.   Check out Manofmultnomah (here and here), apparently Chris King took some interest in it as well.  Want one of your own?  Buy it here, or here... Continue reading →
      Boston Biker
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg
    • Boston’s Invitation to Improve Biking in Boston: Draw on Some Maps! December 14, 2020
      TweetSometimes, the best way to gather ideas and feedback is to let people draw on some maps. Last night, at the Bike Network Open House, pedallovers unveiled a draft for their upcoming plans for a more connected biking network infrastructure … Continue reading →
      greg