Designers Dream Up a Subway Handle That Disinfects Itself
(Image: red-dot.sg)
It’s about time that public transportation gets its act cleaned up. A new award-winning gadget concept looks to do just that.
As spotted by Inhabitat, Cyclean is a train and bus strap that disinfects itself with a simple pull. Designed to address health risks by controlling the spreading of germs in public transportation, rough sponges and a liquid cleaning agent work inside the strap’s rotation mechanism to strip both the ick left by past riders and the worry from your mind.
(Image: red-dot.sg)
The grossness associated with trains and buses is not all in your head. As reported on Yahoo Health, a four-year study by the University of Arizona found that public transportation armrests are the most germ-ridden public surfaces, ranked just above playground equipment and shopping carts. So maybe Cyclean will prove to be more ingenious than we ever could have imagined.
Of course, another option for keeping the germs away while on the bus or train might be to wrap yourself in these anti-bacterial transportation clothes created by Chicago company gravitytank. That is, if they ever actually get manufactured. They’re just a concept product…and seem like a bit of a hassle, if you ask us.
For more on Cyclean, visit its Red Dot Design Award page.
There’s no information yet on if, how, or where the gadget will be deployed (New York City, please), but we say bravo on a great idea. Now let’s talk about the terrible smells inside subway cars.
And, oh yeah, can we get some germ wipes for those new MTA touchscreen maps, too?
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