University Introduces ‘Texting Lane’ on Staircase

With reporting by Rick Couri of KRMG

OREM, Utah — We’ve all seen pictures or video of mishaps happening when people text as they walk.

A Utah Valley University thinks it has a way to slow the problem. The university has painted lanes on a set of stairs to divide areas for running, walking and texting.

“This graphic is obviously more aesthetic than functional,” creative services director Matt Bambrough told WVBT. “Watching people take these stairs, most people don’t obey the posted lanes.”

Bambrough said workers are trying to make the student life and wellness center a more functional place. 

He admitted that not everyone is following directions. More here.

Meanwhile, Utah isn’t the only place to try out the idea of dedicated lanes for people who are too busy with their smartphones to notice where they’re going.

Temporary ‘text walking lanes’ have popped up in some busy shopping neighborhoods of Antwerp, Belgium. These lines were put in by a local smartphone laboratory, according to Yahoo News.

Let’s see if these things catch on!