Bicycle Highways
We all know that riding a bike is much healthier than driving a car, but the downside is that it takes a longer time to reach your destination, and sometimes it’s just terrifying to bike on the highway. However, Japan seems to have found a perfect solution.
Picture the highways that Americans are so familiar with, remove the cars and add bicycles instead. It sounds like a dream, but countries like Japan already have this masterpiece built. Not only is it helping the environment, but also, it alleviates traffic.
Cheese Vending Machines
Who doesn’t love vending machines? They’re super convenient, and somehow they always seem to be placed at the exact location where you need them. You’re probably most familiar with soda and snack vending machines, but have you ever heard of a cheese vending machine?
In Bavaria, customers can choose their favorite cheese from several different options displayed on a vending machine purely dedicated to cheese. With the amount of Americans consuming dairy every day, it’s surprising that these machines haven’t arrived in the U.S. yet.
Calorie-Counting Stairs
Everybody knows that taking the stairs is the best alternative if you’re trying to get healthier or if you’re trying to shed some pounds. But sometimes, the elevator can be too tempting, especially if you live on the 10th floor.
But what if there were stairs that indicated how many calories you burnt as you took each step? Not only does this incentivize people to take the stairs, but it also helps them keep track of how many calories they successfully burnt.
Next-Level Bathrooms
Depending on where in the world you’ve grown up, you may or may not be familiar with a bidet. A bidet is a plumbing fixture that uses water as a replacement for toilet paper.
Bidets are great because they are hygienic without causing the abrasion that some toilet paper can generate. That’s why if you go to a public restroom in Europe, you’ll find yourself not just with a toilet but also with a bidet.
Free Wifi
We’ve all been there; you go to a coffee shop and buy a coffee or a snack so that you can use the wifi. While it’s great to sit down and do work in the cozy environment of a café, sometimes you just need wifi when you’re on the street.
In Estonia, having access to the internet is seen more as a human right than simply a convenience. That is why if you go there, you’ll find that there is free wifi between certain hours and that there is no need to find the closest coffee shop.
Color-Coded Baskets
While some people may find it super helpful to have staff approach them the second they go into a store, other people might find it a bit annoying, especially if they want to browse in peace or are just there to engage in window shopping.
In countries like Japan and China, stores have found a perfect solution to satisfy both types of customers, and it’s super simple. Depending on what the customer is feeling that day, they pick up the pink basket that indicates they welcome staff’s help, or they pick up the black basket, signaling they want to be left alone.
Wonky Veg Box
Everybody tells you to eat more vegetables, but unfortunately, sometimes vegetables can get quite pricey in the States. But did you ever notice how vegetables in your nearby grocery store seem to always look picture perfect?
The United Kingdom has found an amazing solution to encourage its residents to eat more produce by creating these “Wonky Veg” boxes that consist of vegetables that are considered too ugly to be displayed in the store. These boxes are filled with nutritious veggies at a fraction of the cost of the prettier vegetables.
Workouts At Work
We all wish that we could get healthier, but sometimes hitting the gym or doing an evening run doesn’t quite fit a busy 9-5 job. It’s even worse when you consider the number of hours we spend sitting at our desks aggravating our back pains.
However, countries like Japan have decided that healthy workers mean better work produced. This is why some companies have added exercise as a part of their daily 9-5 routine. The staff is encouraged to stand up and follow along with a professional trainer that guides them through stretches that improve their health and lift up their spirits.
Candy-Free Checkout
It has become a common practice all around the world to have candy displayed right before checkout. It’s a marketing technique that companies use to make sure that they can get as much money out of you as possible, so don’t feel too guilty if you’ve ever grabbed a candy bar just because it was there.
Some countries have come up with “candy-free” checkouts for those who cannot resist the hundreds of chocolate bars displayed at the register. It’s the perfect solution for people that don’t have the willpower to say no to delicious candy.
Traffic Emoji
Communicating with other drivers is not always the easiest thing to do. Sometimes, you simply want to thank a fellow driver for letting you merge into their lane, but there’s no safe way to say ‘thank you’ properly.
This is why we need this genius traffic emoji invention, a perfectly clear way to thank a driver without complicating things. You simply push a button, and a smiley face lights up on the back of your car.
Grocery Store Cart Map
How many hours have you spent roaming around a grocery store trying to find this one item that seems to be running away from you? Sometimes, no matter how much you scan the overhead signs, the item you’re looking for just isn’t where you thought it would be.
This is when you would need a shopping cart that has a little map on it, so you don’t need to be playing hide and seek with a loaf of bread or strain your neck reading all the signs hanging from the ceiling. Sweden has already implemented this little trick.
Pizza Vending Machine
We already talked about the dream of having a cheese vending machine, but how about a pizza vending machine? It’s a wonder how we haven’t seen these in America yet, considering how much U.S. residents enjoy a cheesy slice of fresh pizza.
Croatia seems to be doing it right. With their pizza vending machines, you don’t just get a regular pizza; you get a personalized one. You pick your base, your topping and your sauce. Then, you put your money in, and next thing you know, a slice of delicious pizza is ready to be eaten.
Beach Accessibility Mats
Going to the beach is one of the happiest feelings in the world, except for that small part of your day where you have to walk on the burning sand to reach the water. Places like Victoria Beach have found a solution to this by introducing a beach accessibility mat.
This mat runs from the boardwalk to the water’s edge, thus allowing people that simply want to enjoy the water to do so without walking on the hot sand. This addition is also wonderful for people in wheelchairs or strollers that have a very hard time reaching the water through the sand.
Ready-Made Banana Bread Bags
Who doesn’t love banana bread? Not only is it an easier way to eat fruit, but also, it’s delicious. Easy to make with ingredients that most of us have, banana bread is the type of sweet snack that will make everybody happy.
The not-so-great part about banana bread? Waiting for those green bananas sitting on your kitchen counter to turn brown. Enter ready-made banana bread bags. Some stores around the world have started implementing this new process where the very ripe bananas are placed in bags for anybody that has the urge to make banana bread that same day.
Bathroom-Gap Blocker
There are far too many bathroom stalls out there that have a gap that is a little bit too big for you to be doing your private deeds. One can feel exposed and fear a random person peeping through the gap at any time. Needless to say, the experience can be nerve-wracking.
Gap blockers are the ideal solution for you to go to the bathroom and be at complete ease because nobody will be able to peek into your stall. Not only are you fully covered, but gap blockers are also soundproof, so you can stop worrying about any unwanted sound reaching other people in the public restroom.
Human/Pet Water Fountain
While human water fountains are very common, pet water fountains are harder to come by. However, we’re all too familiar with a panting dog that is in dire need of water, which is why these water fountains come in handy.
This clever invention is not like any ordinary water fountain. It’s designed in such a way that any excess water from the top will flow down to a container where your pet can drink from, and you and your beloved companion can both take a water break together.
Bathroom Stall Screen
You know how people say that you shouldn’t drink too much right before going to the movie theater so you don’t miss part of the movie by going to the restroom? Well for some people, not drinking anything is out of the question.
Luckily for the Swiss, they can enjoy as much soda as they please because when they need to use the toilet, they’ll be able to continue enjoying the movie in the stall itself. These screens in the bathroom stalls are truly revolutionary.
Build-It-Yourself Furniture With Easy Steps
Building your own furniture has been proven to make you feel a special attachment to the final result. Stores like IKEA are famous for selling this type of furniture, where you follow instructions to assemble your new piece.
However, sometimes instructions can get a bit complicated, particularly for furniture that has many little pieces. Thus, this design makes it even easier by organizing each component in chronological order.
Shopping Cart Calculator
Doing groceries can be a very pleasant and fun experience for some people, but it can also be a bit uncomfortable for those on a strict budget. Wouldn’t a shopping cart that comes with a calculator be the perfect solution for accidentally adding too many things to your cart?
This shopping cart helps you stay within your budget and avoid any awkward situations where you don’t have enough money at the cashier. You simply start adding up the cost of every item you grab, and you’ll no longer have to worry about adding too many items.
No-Air Bikes
Nobody enjoys having a flat tire. This clever design completely eliminates the need to be pumping air into your bike tires. The tires are made out of a type of foam that lasts for a very long time so that bikers can exercise without the worry of a flat tire.
The durable foam has air pockets that allow you to enjoy a smooth ride, as they have the ability to absorb shock. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing these bikes in the U.S. very soon.
Public Bikes With GPS
As bike-sharing systems are getting more popular, cities are thinking about ways to make cycling more pleasurable and convenient. Copenhagen, for instance, has added a new feature to their public bike-sharing system that is a whole game-changer.
These new bikes come with a touchscreen GPS that helps the rider get to their location without using their phone. Not only does this avoid the hassle of checking your phone to see if you’re going in the right direction, but it also encourages more people to join the world of cycling.
Staircase Slide
We all remember that wonderful feeling we would get as kids as we slid down those bright yellow slides at the park. This invention brings back that feeling in a very convenient and clever way that will make any adult reminisce about their childhood days.
The staircase slide will surely bring some joy to anybody’s day. Not only is it much faster to slide down than to take the stairs, but it is also a lot of fun. It’s practically a free amusement park experience.
Outward Facing Train Seats
Most of us have experienced fighting over who gets the window seat. After all, looking out the window during a long train ride can be super relaxing, and nobody really enjoys staring at the seat in front of them for hours.
This Japanese train has found a way to allow all of its passengers to have a chance to admire the surrounding landscape. With this type of train, you won’t need to fight over who gets the window seat because everybody can enjoy the beautiful view.
Flashlight Slippers
Nobody enjoys stubbing their toes or hitting something accidentally with their feet. However, this is a very common scenario that happens when you wake up in the middle of the night, need to get something, but don’t want to disturb anybody sleeping.
Enter the flashlight slippers. This genius invention allows you to illuminate your surroundings without making any noise. So forget about the times of injured feet or angry family members questioning why you’re up at 4 AM.
Doggie Dens
Too often, dog owners find themselves having to run errands when they are walking their pooch. Unfortunately, far too many grocery stores don’t allow dogs inside. Copenhagen is ahead of its time because it has devised these doggie dens where you can leave your dog inside while you shop.
The stalls are air-conditioned, which means you don’t have to worry about your dog suffering a heat stroke. You can relax and do your shopping knowing that your dog is taking a nap in a comfortable environment.