Have you ever seen a great idea and wondered “why don’t we have that everywhere?” From simple tweaks that make outdoor activities more inclusive to tricks that make everything from parking correctly to driving safely easier, these ideas will have you wanting these items in your hometown.
There’s something to please everyone, from germophobes, pet lovers, and grocery shoppers, to people on bad dates or who want to be left along while shopping. These 55 ideas are meant to keep us safe, save us time, and even make cooking, cleaning, and riding the elevator easier.
How many do you think should be more popular and readily available?
If you’ve purchased something online and don’t want to give out your address (or go to a stranger’s home), this “safe zone” gives people the opportunity to exchange goods out in public in order to stay safe. It’s run by the police department and, presumably, well-lit and monitored closely.
No one likes being at the vet, but it’s especially hard if you’re saying goodbye to your beloved pet. This simple candle gives other pet owners in the office the sign to be quiet and respectful so those in mourning can have some peace and respect.
3. Toilets for germaphobes
This public toilet in Mexico doesn’t require you to flush by hand, but instead has a foot pedal. Sometimes even the self-flusher doesn’t work so it’s nice to have an option where you don’t have to touch anything.
Do you ever wonder how people manage to park so poorly? This isn’t going to guarantee that people will have more respect for parking space, but these wall lines give drivers some idea of whether they are parking properly.
This Atlanta airport bathroom has lights over the stalls that tell you if it’s occupied. There’s nothing more annoying than standing in line for the bathroom and wondering if the people in front of you are really paying attention to whether or not all the stalls are in use.
6. Safe crossing for the elderly
In Singapore, elderly pedestrians can tap their identity card to get extra time (from 3-13 seconds) to get across the street. It’s a great way to keep people safe without holding up traffic for too long.
7. Never get lost in the supermarket
This Swedish grocery store has a map on every cart so shoppers never have to wander around and guess which aisle they’re looking for.
This shop, located in Dubai, allows you to shop uninterrupted without having to chase away pushy salespeople. Just pick up the color-coded basket when you come in and design your own shopping experience.
If you’re on a bad date and things are getting weird, this bar allows you to extricate yourself without too much fuss by simply asking for a specific bartender.
10. Card for independent kids
Remember the days when you could go out and play or ride your bike without helicopter parents thinking that you’re lost or neglected? This genius card allows kids to respectfully ask adults to lay off the judgement. And with a place for a phone number, if something does go wrong, it doubles as an ID card.
This grocery store sells overripe bananas at a discount in bags with a banana bread recipe on the back. A great way to avoid wasting good food and get some tasty bread out of it!
12. Pharmacy vending machine
Colleges are installing CVS vending machine full of medicine and hygiene products so no one has to make a late-night run. Safe and convenient!
13. Dual-purpose laundromat
It often feels like such a waste of time to wait around at the laundromat while your clothes wash and dry. Now you can kill two birds with one stone and work out while you wait. They aren’t always the most fun activities, but think of how accomplished you’ll feel afterward!
14. A water fountain for all
The design of this water fountain lets the water flow down so dogs can drink from it too! Now everyone can stay hydrated while out on a walk or a day in the park.
15. Domestic abuse reporting
This is a clever and discreet way for women to report abuse or trouble without having to draw attention to themselves if they’re in the presence of their abusers.
This fence bends into a bench in certain places. The only downside is that there’s water underneath, so you definitely want to make sure your phone or wallet don’t fall out of your pocket while sitting there. Still, it’s a great way to create some extra urban seating!
Make the car wash even more fun by getting out and playing with this soap launcher that lets you sud up your car like a game.
Germaphobes, rejoice! This restaurant has installed a device that lets people open the door without encountering the germs on the doorknob.
19. No running in the hallway
If you don’t want people running down the halls, this optical illusion is one way to give them pause.
Whether you’re in a wheelchair or pushing a stroller, the beach can be off limits to anything on wheels. But this town had the great idea of installing a mat on the beach to make it easier for everyone to access.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee State Parks have installed viewfinders for color blind guests at five state park locations.
When the teacher does a demonstration at their desk, it’s hard to see what exactly is going on. This classroom has a mirror above so all the students can see exactly what’s happening.
23. Shower temperature reader
Don’t you hate standing outside the shower waiting for the water to be perfect? It’s especially problematic when you’re in a hotel and there’s no telling how hot the water will get (or how long it will take to heat up). But this gadget allows you to see exactly what the temperature is before you step in!
24. Bike stand with air pump
Not only are public bike stands a great way to keep bikes off the street and avoid them being tied to random trees, this one even has a free air pump attached so your wheels will be in top shape as you’re getting around town sustainably.
25. Temporary dog shelter
These stalls are available outside of a Copenhagen supermarket for anyone who needs a safe place for their dog while they shop.
26. Stop lights you can actually see
These traffic lights in Ukraine make sure all drivers can see the color of the light by illuminating the the entire structure. And it looks pretty too!
Create your own energy to charge your phone with these public charging stations. In order to get your power, you need to make it yourself by getting some exercise at the same time.
This hotel has the fire evacuation plans at ground level so you can see them if smoke has filled the hallways and you’ve had to hit the deck.
29. Listing ingredients and uses
This soap label lists the purpose of each ingredient. What a great way to make people more knowledgable about what goes into their products. It’s also a great way to keep companies honest about whether or not extra ingredients are really necessary.
Did you ever order a pizza and think “is that really what I ordered”? Well, wonder no more because this pizzeria in Prague, Czech Republic has a menu that shows you what each pizza will look like before you order it.
This is the perfect solution if you have kids constantly asking for candy in line at the grocery store or simply want to avoid temptation yourself.
32. Nap cabins in airports
Anyone who has flown across the world AND had a long layover knows that you’ll do just about anything to get some peace and quiet during your trip. That’s why more airports are installing mini-hotels that charge by the hour as well as these nap cabins that allow you to catch a little sleep or simply get away from the hustle and bustle of other travelers.
33. Chair notch for your bag
Sometimes you don’t want to throw your bag on the floor, so you hook it onto the back of your chair only to have it end up falling anyway. These brilliant chairs have a little notch cut into the back so you don’t have to worry about your bag sliding off.
This playground swing allows those in wheelchairs to have some fun too. It’s always nice when all children get to play.
These street lights in Rwanda let drivers know just how long they have to wait until the light changes. No more sitting there wondering how long you’re going to be stuck at a red light!
It’s sad that we need something like this to stay safe, but being able to test your drink for drugs can help save lifes and prevent assaults. These unique coasters change color if an illicit substance is found in your drink.
While it may hold up the line a bit, it certainly saves space to have the sink directly above the urinal.
For some of us, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve had a ceiling fan, you still pull the wrong cord when you mean to turn on the light. Here’s a great solution that will help your guests out as well.
39. Parking space protection
While it doesn’t exactly look easy to navigate while getting out of your car, this garage in France has soft barriers between parking spaces to stop people scratching other cars.
Get something back for your good deeds at this beach that allows you to grab a bucket, clean up the beach, and collect a free coffee when you’re done. You can get caffeinated AND have clean surroundings. It’s a win-win.
41. Rubix cube for the blind
This person adapted a Rubix Cube for the blind. We’re not sure that makes it any easier to solve, but it at least gives more people a chance to try.
42. Food-friendly benches
If you’ve ever tried to sit and grab a quick bite to eat on a park bench you know that it’s not the most elegant arrangement. You’re constantly trying to cover your clothes while hunched over with your food, not to mention trying to find a way to steady your drink without spilling it. These benches in Sweden are perfect for anyone grabbing a quick bite.
This test area is in a shoe store that sells bendy and thin shoes and allows customers to see what it would feel like to walk on different types of surfaces – including Legos!
Don’t you hate putting your fitted sheet on halfway just to realize that you’ve done it sideways? This sheet gives you a heads up about which is the short side. For those of us with king sized beds, it can often be hard to tell.
No one likes when their cocktail gets warm too fast and the ice starts to melt, diluting the flavor. This bar has installed an ice strip to keep things cool.
This cool 3-D cast can be worn in the shower and looks pretty cool too. As the technology becomes more widely available, hopefully it will become cheaper as well.
Have you ever wanted to make a special cake but not invest in a cake pan you’re only going to use once? This library had the strange but pretty brilliant idea of renting out the cookware as they would a book!
This hotel room curtain rod makes light-blocking curtains work so much butter. It’s designed to eliminate the gap in the middle that lets in the early morning sliver of light.
49. Long-distance call button
It might seem silly to put the elevator button so far from the door, but it could save you time since the doors will likely open the minute you walk up.
50. Double perforated bags
Don’t you hate getting grease or crumbs all over yourself when you’re reaching into the bottom of a chip bag for the last of your snack? I mean, you could pour them into a bowl, but this double perforated bag allows you to make a second opening farther down the bag instead.
Have you ever had leftover pizza and not had room for that whole big box in your fridge? Well, save yourself the extra wrapping and dishes if you have one of these nifty boxes that folds over to store leftovers without taking up too much space.
Speaking of pizza boxes, this might not be a genius idea, but it certainly is amusing!
53. Hexagonal graph paper
Whether or not you ever took organic chemistry, you can see why this unique paper would make your homework a lot easier and more artistic (and maybe even fun). It’s also useful for anyone who plays board games and wants to map out their strategies.
One final shout-out to the germaphobes. This elevator has regular buttons, but if you can’t help but think about how many people have put their fingers on them before you (especially during cold and flu season), you also have the option of kicking a button near the floor to get where you need to go.
55. Restaurant call button
There’s no substitute for good service, but when you’re not at a fancy restaurant or you’re somewhere busy, this is the next best thing. This button allows you to call over the waitstaff if you need help and even has a button that specifically alerts them that you’re ready for your check.
We’re pretty impressed by these innovations. Which ones are your favorite?
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Have you ever seen a great idea and wondered “why don’t we have that everywhere?” From simple tweaks that make outdoor activities more inclusive to tricks that make everything from parking correctly to driving safely easier, these ideas will have you wanting these items in your hometown.
There’s something to please everyone, from germophobes, pet lovers, and grocery shoppers, to people on bad dates or who want to be left along while shopping. These 55 ideas are meant to keep us safe, save us time, and even make cooking, cleaning, and riding the elevator easier.
How many do you think should be more popular and readily available?
