Biking in cities can be exhilarating, but it can also be harrowing and dangerous. In 2018, over 850 cyclists were killed by vehicle drivers in the US, an increase of 6.3 percent over the previous year. Over 2,000 cyclists are killed by drivers on the road in Europe every year. Cyclists try to make themselves more visible to drivers by wearing reflective clothing and blinking lights, but it never seems to be enough.
So here comes Ford with a novel solution: an emoji jacket. As part of its “Share the Road” campaign to improve cycling safety, the automaker’s European division designed a cycling jacket with an LED display on the back that lights up with various emoji to convey the cyclist’s mood. A smiley face indicates a happy cyclist, a…