Citi Bike in New York City opened in 2013 with 332 bicycle stations and with 6000 bicycles. The amount of stations available in the city becomes a good alternative and a quick way for people to get from one place to another. However, safety issues include users not having a helmets available to them at these kiosks. Users are required to bring their own helmets with them when they ride with Citi Bike. As helmets take up quite a bit of space in backpacks and are usually forgettable, people often tend to travel without one. Thus, many users end up renting the bicycles without wearing proper head gear protection. This becomes a huge concern, since up to 58% of cyclists do not wear helmets when cycling.
On 17 November 2016, inventor Isis Shiffer won the 2016 International James Dyson Award for the invention of the EcoHelmet.
Made of paper, the device collapses and fits nicely in any bag. At first glance, one would not think that something made of paper could potentially save you from accidents. However, Shiffer pointed out that the radial honeycomb design makes the helmet "as solid as a traditional polycarbonate plastic helmet". The helmet has a biodegradable coating, making it resistant to light rain for up to three hours. Since it is made out of paper, the helmet is fully recyclable, so used helmets can be made again into a completely new one. The bendable material of the helmet allows it to fit a variety of heads, and its airy material allows for air ventilation. The helmets would be sold in vending machines nearby bike share stations at a very affordable rate of $5.
Such innovations suggests that there are many opportunities that companies and even entrepreneurs can make use of in the shared economy.
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