'Contrail' - or how to re-claim the streets with the aid of some coloured chalks

ok, someone has come up with the strange but intriguing idea of fitting a chalk-dispensing device to your bike to sort of mark out your territory as you ride.

Here's the sell:

THE CONTRAIL: Contrail is a small bright bike accessory that allows bicyclists to color in their own space on the road. It’s like playing with sidewalk chalk, but faster.

THE WORKS: Contrail holds 200 grams of chalk, enough for about 20 miles (32km) of riding. It functions much like a carpenter’s chalk line: A small amount of powdered chalk is filtered through a brush inside the device and picked up on a felt wheel. The felt wheel transfers this chalk onto the rear tire leaving a fine layer. As chalk builds up, the tire leaves a faint line of color on the roadbed. This is you contrail. It is a colorful and ephemeral representation of your path.

This Contrail idea, from a US designer called Pepin Gelardi, was entered into the 'power to the pedal' competition run by the Design 21 'social design network', a UNESCO- backed organisation that seeks 'design for the better good'.

I like the idea of groups of riders colouring in London's streets as they ride, but really not sure how it would help protect against u-turning cab drivers and sleepy long-haul truckers.

any thoughts on whether this is indeed 'design for the better good' (terrible mission statement, BTW). More on the contrail and other 'Power to the Pedal' designs here

It rains in London.

Always a fresh canvas...

It rains in London.

well yes, but not every day. not even most days. not even half the days. in fact hardly ever, it's like Monte Carlo.

or maybe one day of spring sunshine already wiped all memory of that long dark winter we just had...

Looks like a beautiful idea. The only problem I can think of is wet chalk is very slippery.

Could be quite useful for the leader of a ride to have one, If someone falls back they could follow the trail back to the group.

I love this so much, makes you want to be able to do tidy 360 skids :) or cycle in formation and paint a rainbow/ DNA :D

will be good in accidents to see where the bike was riding before to be squask by a car/bus/truck

and yet the photo was a fake;

Nice work.

its a competition, its not a real product. like the laser cycle path.

I love this so much, makes you want to be able to do tidy 360 skids :) or cycle in formation and paint a rainbow/ DNA :D

that's the spirit Nahguavkire!

^^ wouldn't really work tho, cos the chalk is only applied when the wheel is turning. You'd just have a line of colour then a big gap where you skid!

Imagine critical mass if everyone had this!

its a competition, its not a real product. like the laser cycle path.

No one like a smart arse Matthew. We can dream can't we ??

dream? dream? no. no you can not.

ah, go ahead, dream your chalky dreams andy! go! be freeee!

mmmmmmm, chalk .......

I like it!

^^ wouldn't really work tho, cos the chalk is only applied when the wheel is turning. You'd just have a line of colour then a big gap where you skid!

Imagine critical mass if everyone had this!

and on your own is no fun isn't it? unless everyone at Trixie Dix have them.

Wouldn't you be able to corner better, if you could get it on the front wheel as well???

Polo, with the two teams with different coloured contrails?

nice

Party poopers.

am i the only one who immediately thought of accidents and being able to prove where you were on the road?
I like the idea but i would much rather see it done to produce art rather than jut ride with it! Do i really want that pissed off person to follow my trail?

will be good in accidents to see where the bike was riding before to be squask by a car/bus/truck

no Jacqui you were not the only one