Brooklyn artist Justin Blinder turned his post-pandemic delivery job into an art project that brings home the harsh reality of rent prices through cycling.

The Ground Truth device mounts on Citi Bikes, making them harder to pedal in economically struggling areas where residents struggle with excessive housing costs. In richer parts, the bike becomes easier to ride, simulating the financial disparity Justin witnessed during his deliveries.

“It’s really trying to make the way we traditionally visualize a lot of big data more tangible and embodied,” Blinder said. His previous project, Pandemic Pulse, used real-time coronavirus statistics to adjust screen brightness, aiming to bring data into our everyday lives in an impactful way.

Blinder hopes this device will not only raise awareness about the rising cost of renting a Citi Bike but also highlight how affordability varies block by block across New York City. The project has received a $10,000 grant from Brooklyn’s Idle Hands arts organization and is being tested with 35 miles of ride footage.

By riding through different neighborhoods, Blinder hopes to make the city’s economic disparities feel more real, perhaps forcing us all to slow down and reconsider our everyday experiences as a reflection of broader societal issues.