This Chinese city has special walking lanes for pedestrians who can’t put their phones down

Asia is so often the vanguard of new tech trends: how about dedicating walking lanes for people using mobile phones?

That’s what is happening in Chongqing City, where the country’s first “exclusive sidewalk for mobile phone users” has been introduced, according to the People’s Daily newspaper.

Chongqing City has set up China’s 1st “exclusive sidewalk for mobile phone users ” to avoid possible crashes on Fri pic.twitter.com/jFiCbbE1yk

— People’s Daily,China (@PDChina) September 13, 2014

As someone who often suffers the pain of walking behind pedestrians who are glued to their smartphone, this mad-cap idea might actually be useful. But we can’t help thinking that it would just be easier if people were less attached to their phones, and put their personal safety (and that of others) ahead of their FOMA — a dedicated mobile lane wouldn’t stop someone walking off a pier, for example.

Small update: Thanks @Aulia, who reminded us that Washington DC tried a similar initiative this summer.

➤ Putting Smartphone Zombies In Their Place [TechCrunch]

Thumbnail image via People’s Daily