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'Text Walking Lanes': Antwerp Sets Up Temporary Scheme

posted by janrinok on Tuesday June 23 2015, @12:08PM   Printer-friendly
from the look-up,-problem-solved dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

People sending text messages in the centre of the Belgian city of Antwerp have been provided with dedicated temporary "text walking lanes" so that they do not collide with pedestrians.

The initiative - some would say publicity stunt - is the brainchild of a smartphone store based in the city. It says that a significant number of mobile phone breakages happen because of "text walking" collisions. There are now believed to be more mobile phones in the world than people.

Figures released by mobile operators and associated companies show that there are about 7.5 billion mobiles in the world, compared to a world population estimated to be 7.2 billion by the US Census Bureau. The "text walking lanes" may become permanent fixtures

"You probably walk through the streets while texting or sending Whatsapp messages to your friends and don't really pay attention to your surroundings - only to whatever is happening on your screen," a spokesman for Mlab, a smart phone laboratory based in Antwerp, was quoted by Yahoo News as saying.

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  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @12:40PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @12:40PM (#199850)

    Can I still punch them in the face for being obnoxious.? I hate people that look at their phones instead of where they are going.

    I am 6'3" heavy bloke with a fast walk and a pissed off look on my face (I am a happy soul really). This makes other people get out of my way when I am walking to work or back.
    I have almost knocked people over because they are not looking where they are going.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @12:53PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @12:53PM (#199853)

    If you see someone walking along looking at their phone and not paying attention, let them run into you.

    • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Tuesday June 23 2015, @02:17PM

      by nitehawk214 (1304) on Tuesday June 23 2015, @02:17PM (#199890)

      Some people say it is the duty of the person paying attention to avoid all collisions.

      Fuck that and fuck them.

      --
      "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @02:29PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 23 2015, @02:29PM (#199894)

        > Some people say it is the duty of the person paying attention to avoid all collisions.

        That's what I do, I avoid collisions, and when the dumbwalker passes by I say "WOOOOSH".

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by davester666 on Wednesday June 24 2015, @06:03AM

    by davester666 (155) on Wednesday June 24 2015, @06:03AM (#200248)

    Put wood blocks on these paths. Or gravel. Or paint the lines to go into a wall.