Artist Creates Device That Adjusts Bike Pedal Resistance Based on Housing Costs
Photo: The Verge
Quick answer
Ground Truth uses housing affordability data to modify bike pedal resistance. In high-rent areas, the load increases, demonstrating economic inequality through physical exertion.
New York-based artist and technologist Justin Blinder has unveiled Ground Truth, an art project featuring a device that adjusts bicycle pedal resistance based on local housing affordability. The idea struck Blinder while working as a food delivery courier, where he noticed stark contrasts between adjacent neighborhoods in New York City.
The device attaches to a bike fork and uses a servo motor to modify pedal load. In high-rent areas, resistance increases, forcing the rider to exert more effort. Ground Truth relies on U.S. Census data on the share of income residents spend on housing and utilities, cross-referenced with GPS coordinates.
All data processing is done offline, and the device does not collect route information. Powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, GPS module, and SD card for data storage, Blinder plans to expand the project by integrating additional datasets to visualize other socio-economic issues.
Common questions
- How does the Ground Truth device work?
- It attaches to a bike fork and adjusts pedal resistance via a servo motor. Housing affordability data is loaded onto an SD card, while GPS determines the rider's location.
- What data does the device use?
- The project leverages U.S. Census data on the share of income residents spend on rent and utilities, mapped to geographic coordinates.
- Can the device track the user's location?
- No, all data processing is offline, and the device does not store route information.
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