With just nine days to go, a Kickstarter campaign for urban runners is about $6,000 away from their goal of $20,000.

Runbell is a tiny bell you wear on your finger while running. When you approach a congested area of a sidewalk or group of people in a park, just ring the bell, and people probably will move for you. That's because people are used to hearing the familiar bells when bikers are coming near them.

The device is worn just like a ring, except it goes over two fingers. One finger gets the bell, and the other gets a circular hoop. It is advertised as a powerful bell, made of brass, just like a musical instrument. You'll be able to adjust the size of the ring to fit your finger. For a $25 donation, donors will receive a Ringbell in either gold or pink gold.

Runbell's goal is the safety of runners and pedestrians. Anyone who has ever run in a congested city with lots of pedestrians (or tourists), knows it's not exactly easy to keep a consistent pace. Often, runners have to slow down or make an abrupt maneuver to pass or avoid groups of people.

Instead of surprising or scaring people by sneaking around them, a simple flick of your finger can alert passersby that a runner is near them.

Runbell was invented in Tokyo, a busy city with a population of over 13 million with tons of pedestrians. Yelling "On your left!" or "Coming through!" does not fly in the polite city of Tokyo. So, Runbell is the perfect solution.

"Absolutely rude! Would never do that. Runners always try to be ultra careful, slowing right down," famous Tokyo GPS runner Joseph Tame said.

In the U.S., where politeness isn't as rampant, Runbell could avoid having to yell at strangers as you run through the city. OutsideOnline is calling this a must-have accessory for runners.

To find out more about the campaign, visit the Kickstarter website for the campaign, and check out this video of Runbell in action:

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