Good Thinking

Heated bus shelter encourages commuters to make a connection

Heated bus shelter encourages commuters to make a connection
The heated bus shelter in Montreal that encourages commuters to reach out to each other
The heated bus shelter in Montreal that encourages commuters to reach out to each other
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The heated bus shelter in Montreal that encourages commuters to reach out to each other
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The heated bus shelter in Montreal that encourages commuters to reach out to each other
A fist bump will do if holding hands is too intimate
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A fist bump will do if holding hands is too intimate
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The heating element in the roof of the bus shelter
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The heating element in the roof of the bus shelter
Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter
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Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter
Contacts either side of the bus shelter need to be connected to complete a circuit and activate the heater
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Contacts either side of the bus shelter need to be connected to complete a circuit and activate the heater
Soaking up some warmth in the bus shelter
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Soaking up some warmth in the bus shelter
Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter
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Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter
View gallery - 8 images

With the mercury in Montreal lucky to make it above 0° C (32° F) at this time of year, Duracell has provided city commuters a way to keep warm by literally reaching out to each other. In a PR move that it hopes will warm the hearts – and hands – of commuters, Duracell has constructed a bus shelter that will only turn on the heat if travelers hold hands with each other.

Instead of consciously avoiding eye contact and hiding behind a mobile device and a pair of headphones, commuters need to acknowledge each other's existence and cooperate to get the heat pumping. The bus shelter features positive and negative contacts that need to be connected to complete a circuit and kick the heater in the roof into action.

Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter
Some Montrealers enjoy some warmth provided by the bus shelter

Because these contacts are located on either side of the shelter, commuters need to team up and hold hands – although some have opted for the less intimate prolonged fist bump – while holding the other hand against the wall of the bus shelter. This shouldn't prove any problem for those traveling with that special someone, but could provide some awkward moments amongst strangers. Of course, it could also result in meeting that special someone.

Some heartwarming scenes of commuters enjoying the warmth of the bus shelter can be seen in the video below.

Source: Duracell via Treehugger

View gallery - 8 images
12 comments
12 comments
Daniel Bruce
Hmm interesting. Kind of wish it just warmed up without the hand touching thing but still cool!
Slowburn
Most of the people I "meet" at bus stops I would rather be cold than touch.
Mel Tisdale
I can't think of a better way to facilitate the spread of contagious diseases.
BigGoofyGuy
I think a better idea would be if there was weight sensors in the floor so that it turns on after a certain is attained. If one is trying to stay warm, exposing ones hands to the cold might not be a good idea. How many people would be willing to hold hands just to stay warm?
Nairda
Yes, hold the homeless man's hand.
Jokes aside, I don't think we are evolved enough as a race to hold hands for warmth.
ADVENTUREMUFFIN
Heartwarming concept. Thanks for sharing. who knows-shift can happen!
the.other.will
If this story had been posted 19 days from now, I would have dismissed it as a joke. Tough luck for someone who's alone or with a small child. The greatest need for heat, on average, will be after dark. Also when there is, on average, fewer people riding the bus.
The Skud
Or - One person could stuff a set of long jumper leads in the backpack and connect up for heat at will! Seriously, a very strange idea, who really wants to risk infection with all those viri (viruses?) spreading by hand contact? Or what if the person in the centre has a cold? Who has a hand free to get him/her a tissue?
asdf
Two bits of aluminium foil with some masking tape and wire to connect the conductive plates and the heater is on permanently..
Duderooster
What a load of curmudgeons. Sod the viruses, smelly old folk - it warmed ME up and made me laugh out loud.
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