A city in north-west China has created a pedestrian lane designated for mobile phone addicts.
‘Smartphone zombies’ who prefer keeping their eyes glued to the screen while walking will be separated from those who don’t touch their handsets in Xi’an city.
About a metre (3.3 feet) wide, words painted on the lane read ‘designated pedestrian lane for the “head-down folks”‘, referring to the Chinese nickname for smartphone addicts.
A dedicated lane designed for mobile phone users has recently been opened in Xi’an city
Mobile phone addicts who like to look at their screens are instructed to use the lane
A large icon of a cellphone is also painted on the ground in Xi’an city, along with arrows indicating the direction that people should walk in
Video footage released on Tuesday of the narrow lane shows a sign instructing mobile phone users to occupy the designated walkway.
The pathway was installed by a shopping centre to remind pedestrians to stay alert and focused while walking.
A large icon of a cellphone is also painted on the ground, along with arrows indicating the direction that people should walk in.
The 100-metre (328-feet) lane is painted red, green and blue at different stretches of the busy Yan Ta Road, as if to catch the attention of those who have their heads buried in their phones.
People who prefer not to look at their devices while walking are free to roam the rest of the pavement area, which is indicated with a big ‘no cell phones’ sign.
Residents in the area seem amused by the new sidewalk, with some welcoming the creative design.
The 100-metre (328-feet) lane is painted red, green and blue at different stretches of the busy Yan Ta Road, as if to catch the attention of those who have their heads buried in their phones
Locals think that the special lane could help solve the severe cell phone addition problem
‘The problem of cell phone addition is too severe in China,’ local Hu Shuya told China News. ‘This might help solve it.’
Others are more sceptical.
‘Designated lane or not, this isn’t going to help!’ local Cheng Wen said. ‘Just stop looking at your phones already!’
Xi’an is not the first city in China to come up with creative ideas to deal with people walking while distracted by their phones.
In September 2014, a property manager opened a special lane for cell phone users on a 100ft-stretch of pavement in Chonqing, south west China.
‘Cellphones, walk in this lane at your own risk,’ read a sign at the entrance to the street, which has been divided in two with a white line.
People who prefer not to look at their devices while walking are free to roam the rest of the pavement area, which is indicated with a big ‘no cell phones’ sign
China has a severe cell phone addiction problem, with people in China spending an average of three hours a day on their smartphones, raking second in the world after Brazilians
The project was inspired by the National Geographic programme ‘Mind Over Masses’, which showed the lanes with a similar concept.
China has a severe cell phone addiction problem.
People in China spend an average of three hours a day on their smartphones, ranking second in the world to spend the most time on their phones after Brazilians, according to China Daily.
A total of 29 per cent of people aged between 25 and 34 in a survey said they check their phones more than 50 times every day, according to separate China Daily report.
In the UK, 43 per cent of young people have walked into someone or something while checking their mobile phone, according to a survey in 2015.