Team I8 - Making Downtown Hamilton safer for cyclists

"Our team is passionate about making a meaningful impact in our community. We are comprised of a multi-disciplinary team that has a common vision to improve health and wellbeing options within Hamilton. Our goal is to learn, embrace new perspectives, and drive innovative solutions."

In the city of Hamilton, Canada, there is a pressing need to integrate all forms of transportation and enhance safety for vulnerable road users. The city's transportation system is becoming increasingly busy, with an average of 3,680 reported collisions each year, approximately 11% involving cyclists  [1] . Despite the implementation of the Vision Zero initiative, which aims to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries through improved education, enforcement, engineering, evaluation, and engagement  [2] , the safety of cyclists remains a significant concern. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable to crash energies in a collision with a motor vehicle. However, conflict with motor vehicles and the complexities of the transportation system and the varying characteristics of individual cyclists, and roadways make this a challenging task. Furthermore, certain areas in Hamilton, such as Main St, have been identified as high-risk zones for collisions involving cyclists  [3] , and some streets like King St have gaps in the protected bike lanes, causing more unseen accidents.

We cam use various methods to make sure our idea is successful after going through. >Frequent surveys from the users of the service (Eg: Cyclists)

• Our solution is a retractable bollard, that has a compact design and doesn't require a complicated and expensive installation processes.
• It has a modular design that has easily sourced and replaceable parts