By Robert Stillwagon  |  Send to Friend

The Contrail is a device that might turn Philadelphia’s streets into something of an acid trip, and I can’t wait. Created for the Design21 "Power to the Pedal" Design Competition in 2008 by Pepin Gelardi of Studio Gelardi, Contrail is part of a wave of new devices for bikers to take back the streets.

two.one.five: What exactly was the general theme of the design competition that sparked the idea for the Contrail?

Pepin Gelardi: There was a really specific brief: Create a device/design which will encourage people to ride bicycles and it was specified that the device must attach to the bicycle. I recall there were a couple bike designs in there and a couple bike path ideas.

two.one.five: The Contrail is a pretty sweet device, care to let me know of any not-so-sweet ideas that came before it?

Pepin Gelardi: Oh, yeah, we had loads of ideas. We actually had thought of using lasers to outline the bike path, and another idea about creating an aura around the bike for riding at night. It became really important to us, that this design really would connect people.

two.one.five: I somehow see the aura idea leading to someone getting blinded.

Pepin Gelardi: Oh, yeah, we also thought about having a defensive paint-balling system which was designed to shoot at cars that came to close. We vetoed that one. Bad bones for the bike community.

two.one.five: [Pause] Do you realize how much of a terror I could have been as a child if I’d had a paintball gun strapped to my bike? It would have been glorious.

Pepin Gelardi: Psycho king of the mountain shit right there. There really should be more competitive biking sports.

two.one.five: So tell me about actually producing the device? How was conceptualization?

Pepin Gelardi: We brainstormed for weeks thinking of creating customized bike lanes. We thought of using lights and lasers and GPS stuff. In the end we really like low tech solutions and I said maybe we can apply [chalk] directly to the wheel and have that draw the line. BAM: Contrail.

two.one.five: Philadelphia has a huge bike culture but legit has about 2 or 3 major bike lanes. I love that your design uses the concept of how dirt paths are made in woods, or basically anywhere on campus where students become too lazy and walk through grass.

Pepin Gelardi: By using this device, bicyclists will have a clearer path on which to ride safely and out of the way of vehicular traffic. At the same time, as more bicyclists using the Contrail go over a line created by a cyclist before them, the line gets brighter allowing drivers to clearly see a marked bike path where there might be none

two.one.five: How would you say that Contrail would help cities like Philadelphia where there aren’t many bike lanes?

Pepin Gelardi: In Contrail dreamland, we imagine the city would distribute these devices to best determine where to create bike lanes. Painting a bike lane is pretty straight forward, but the city recognizes how that affects communities, pedestrians, crossings and motorized traffic flow. Contrail lines would help them know where the need is greatest.

two.one.five: Makes sense, so they’d give them out to specific bike shops of worth in the city and let the lines dictate where the greatest need for lanes are?

Pepin Gelardi: Exactly! More importantly, we think Contrail lines are a way for bicyclists to communicate with each other. A single biker may not realize that there are fifty other people riding the same street as them on any given morning.

two.one.five: Yeah, I have to say, NYC looks like an amazing place to bike but I see one lone biker a day there while Philly is a constant clusterfuck. Then again, NYC is huge.

Pepin Gelardi: Yeah, NYC biking is great but your right: bike traffic isn’t even close to Philly.

two.one.five: Have you guys been thinking about producing them mass scale yet? A certain amount of chaos might ensue if the streets look like a 1970’s disco, huh?

Pepin Gelardi: Well, that’s where the city comes in. We prefer to focus on the fact that this device will allow people to see how their own paths overlap.

two.one.five: Large scale artwork created by this would be sick. Google images would get a boner just thinking about the potential.

Pepin Gelardi: I know! Can you imagine an aerial view of a city full of intersecting lines of all different colors!

two.one.five: Two concerns people have raised are the ecological impacts and how it would affect traction. What say you?

Pepin Gelardi: Our product uses Calcium carbonate which isn’t particularly harmful compared to all the damage cars have produced. We haven’t noticed any side effects as far as braking is concerned as long as its kept off the brake pads and sidewalls.

two.one.five: I suppose if the city did have real problems with it you could market it as purely artistic and let the bike community decide it’s popularity.

Pepin Gelardi: We thought about selling it as a kid’s toy.

two.one.five: Right after the paintball idea right?

Pepin Gelardi: That idea is going to get us sued, might be worth it. Not our fault if some kids use them on a critical mass ride.

two.one.five: Any updates on the project?

Pepin Gelardi: We're actually working today on a new prototype that would help with turning the chalk on and off. I wouldn’t want to use it when the road is wet or you might not necessarily want to lead people to your bike or home. Privacy is key; this should be as anonymous or expressive as people want.

two.one.five: Any chance I can sneak a peak for the interview?

Pepin Gelardi: No sir! I’ll keep you updated though.

two.one.five: I was trying to explain to my Grandma the concept during the “weekly phone call” She asked if they needed any testers. She rides about twice a year in the middle of the country.

Pepin Gelardi: We’ll be sure to sign her up as a beta tester if we can get a photo of that.

two.one.five: Any other upcoming projects?

Pepin Gelardi: We're working on a concept based on hide-a-rock keys, except it's hide-a-bike, a giant bolder where you can park your bike under. We’ll sell it in sky mall.

two.one.five: I love sky mall.

photo by Jessi Pervola