Forget fitness trackers and smartphone mounts. The is currently the . Modeled after the classic brass bike bell, this mini finger dinger 鈥渟olves the vexing problem of running in crowded areas where runners and pedestrians share the same path.鈥
I know what you鈥檙e thinking: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 solving a problem that doesn鈥檛 exist!鈥 Au contraire, Shark Tank-educated investor, the problem most certainly does exist. Particularly in Tokyo, the birthplace of this invention, where courtesy is a cultural expectation and there are a lot of people on the sidewalk. In fact, the city of more than 13 million is home to the .
Tokyo is a polite place where people always stand to the left on escalators so others may walk on the right, and hollering 鈥淥n your left!鈥 or 鈥淐oming through鈥 at strangers on the sidewalk is simply considered gauche.
鈥淎bsolutely rude! Would never do that. Runners always try to be ultra careful, slowing right down,鈥 says . If blocked by lollygaggers, proper etiquette dictates one must wait for a gap or find a way around. Runbell allows runners to scatter human roadblocks, with grace.
The United States could only hope to have such a dilemma of decorum. In our decidedly less courteous country鈥攖he land of non-budging escalator rogues and runners proud to announce their approach鈥攖he bell still solves the problem of removing pesky pedestrians from one鈥檚 intended path. And the added benefits are well worth the $25 Kickstarter price tag:
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- The unmistakable brass ding will make pedestrians think a tiny, crazed cyclist is overtaking them. Not only will walkers move over, they鈥檒l leap out of the way. Even better: their expressions of astonishment and/or confusion when no bike passes by will be worthy of a new internet video genre.
- Vocal communication while pounding out an interval is out of the question. If you can say, 鈥淧ardon me,鈥 you鈥檙e not running hard enough. Use the bell.
- In the event that your Runbell causes sidewalk rage, it doubles as brass knuckles.
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Fully adjustable, Runbell also fits over gloves for winter jaunts. As of this writing, it had $10,776 pledged toward its $20,000 goal, with 12 days to go in its campaign.
If you鈥檝e considered investing in fitness technology, now鈥檚 the time to fork it over. Because nothing moves slowpokes and dawdlers out of the way like the charming sound of a tiny bike bell. And because wearing Runbell, with its 鈥淩unbell Tokyo鈥 stamp, will connect runners in sound and spirit with their respectful brethren across the Pacific. 听