The topic is a bit morbid, but it must be addressed: The number of bicyclists and pedestrians dying on Colorado roads is not declining. Hence, the state’s Department of Transportation challenged residents Friday with a $500,000 reward to come up with some solid technological ideas that will reverse the trend.

The five best ideas get $10,000 each, with no obligation to actually make good on the idea. A second competition will require planning, implementation over an eight-month process. Those winners stand to get up to $225,000 to make the idea reality.

“There are some people who just may have that killer idea,” CDOT spokeswoman Amy Ford said.

The contest is part of RoadX, the state’s program to tackle the future technology of transportation. But CDOT officials didn’t want RoadX to just be about autonomous cars and connected vehicles.

“How do we innovate through a technological lens for those things not being addressed? This is about protecting some of our most vulnerable people on the roads. Bicyclists and pedestrians,” Ford said. “(Competitions) have inspired incredible thought.”

Last year in Colorado, about 550 people died in some sort of traffic incident. As of Wednesday, 502 have died.

“We’re going in the wrong direction,” she said.

The bulk of $500,000 rewards will go to people and companies pitching a plan on how to do something about improving the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians. This second competition, which Ford calls the “Do-athon,” is looking for people or companies that take the great ideas and strategize a path to implementation.

Five winners will also be picked from this category to receive $75,000 each to build a proof of concept. After eight months, the winner will get another $150,000 to continue, while the two runner ups will get $50,000 and $25,000 each.

Judges will consider feasibility, deployment, scalability and potential adoption by users. CDOT also will have a preference for technology companies and community partnerships.

The submission deadline is Feb. 27. Winners will be selected by March 31.

If you have an idea, read the rules and submit it here.