This is just one of those things that makes you wonder why you didn't think of it and be impressed all at once.
Bike-sharing programs aren’t an uncommon sight in many major cities, but renting a ride often comes without one major accessory: the helmet.
Isis Shiffer, who recently graduated with a master’s degree from the Pratt Institute of Design, had a solution for bikers who might not have their own headgear on hand — a disposable EcoHelmet, made of collapsible cardstock paper that can be reused or recycled at the end of a ride. The helmet, which relies on a waterproof and accordion-like structure to protect the rider from any impacts, won the James Dyson Award this week for its innovative design.
“We have these fantastic [bike-hire] schemes all around the world and if you want to wear a helmet you either have to bring your own or spend quite a bit of money,” Shiffer said to the Guardian. So she decided to craft a cheaper and more portable alternative, she added.
It's lightweight and as strong and as protective as traditional helmets. It's treated to repel rain for up to three hours, and when it's reached the end of its useful life, it gets recycled. See, good stuff still happens in this world. And gets recognized. Congratulations, Ms. Shiffer.