Boston’s in the midst of improving cycling safety measures citywide, in part by increasing the prevalence of bike lanes. A new innovation out of Long Beach, Calif., though, could prove to be a more timely solution as the lanes continue to be implemented. Obviously, its based on whiskers.

Yes, whiskers; those long, tactile threads of hair that add about 1,000 times more cuteness to your cat or dog. It turns out, a similarly-styled item that could be installed on bikes is able to create added space for a cyclist to maneuver on the road in without being hamstrung by unaccommodating cars.

What’s great about the “luminescent tendrils,” as they’re referred to by VibriSee, is that they essentially create a boundary around which a vehicle must, or at least should, adhere. They also flash bright colors to alert surrounding drivers when the cyclist is slowing down or turning, and pose no problems at all when it comes to the cyclists’ general navigation.

“Since a big issue with bikes is navigating through traffic, we were looking for animals that are good navigators,” says Channing Shattuck, a member of the design team told Fast Co.Exist. “At a local animal shelter, a specialist explained how cats and mice use whiskers to gauge if they can fit through openings. At the Aquarium of the Pacific, we learned that harbor seals use whiskers to follow fish through the water.”

What’s not so great about the whiskers is that the creators of the project have no plans to pursue any mass production, as noted by Fast Co.Exist. And, let’s face it, they look pretty ridiculous.

But style is a small price to pay if it affords another facet to lacking bike safety measures right? Let us know if this is something you’d outfit on your two-wheeler in the comments section below.

Featured image via Fast Co.Exist