'Texting Lane' In Philadelphia Just For Laughs, But Issue Serious

Lines on some sidewalks near the Philadelphia City Hall now designate part of the pavement as "e-lanes" suitable for chronic texters and digital music aficionados – although only through the end of the week.

PHILADELPHIA -- The sidewalk lanes for the digitally distracted may be a joke but officials in Philadelphia want the public to know the issue is no laughing matter.

Lines on some sidewalks near City Hall now designate part of the pavement as "e-lanes" suitable for chronic texters and digital music aficionados – although only through the end of the week.

The April Fools' Day prank is one way city officials, in particular Mayor Michael Nutter, are trying to draw attention to the danger of inattentive pedestrians.

The lines, signage and sidewalk graphics – depicting a pedestrian peering down at a hand-held device – will stick around part of John F. Kennedy Boulevard through the week.

A bogus video released for the new lanes shows Nutter being cut off mid-interview by an oblivious pedestrian, played by Streets Department Deputy Commissioner Steven Buckley.

"Sidewalk safety is important," Nutter noted just after his mock interview was disrupted. The video also features a rowdy band of anti-texting protesters.

All kidding aside, officials said distracted pedestrians are a serious issue the city plans to address.

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Comments

[Amberboo61997]

06:30 PM on 04/04/2012

This is so not lol'd. I am smh. Txting is nt cool. Gtg get help for ppl. lol...jk...oh no...I can't stop!!!
No really when i text someone they talk like that...so irritating and they say stuff that i find so frickin confusing. Imagine what they'll do when they get on the texting lanes. All you'll get is= dgfgbvGBDSGBggLJWBGOB'WBGEJKDSBGGBSDOBGIGBREbgkwubeuowrbgR hi.
See my point? hahaha

[AAHewetson]

01:59 PM on 04/04/2012

imPodiment : a person so distracted by their interaction with handheld electronic devices that they create an obstacle and/or safety hazard to themselves and to those around them.

Use in a sentence. Get out of my way, you f------ imPodiment!

[XS VENOM]

04:04 PM on 04/03/2012

I like the idea that they get hit by cars.

[jackdaniel58]

02:53 PM on 04/03/2012

A good forearm will awaken the distracted.

[PatricktPDX]

02:04 PM on 04/03/2012

This is proof that we cannot cater to people who have allowed technology to turn them into non communicating, self absorbed idiots!

[Amberboo61997]

06:25 PM on 04/04/2012

I so agree

[carnivaluv]

01:55 PM on 04/03/2012

Too bad they are removing the lanes this week. Texting while bumping into people shows just how stupid and inconsiderate some people are.

[DeathSquad]

01:17 PM on 04/03/2012

Good idea. Kind of like the Japanese cross walk signals that play music.

[Perky2Cents]

10:49 AM on 04/03/2012

It's for April Fools people .. don't get your panties in a knot :)

[Ray Russelburg]

08:37 AM on 04/03/2012

Funny. Wish I had thought of this. It's hilarious.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

06:05 AM on 04/03/2012

They were going to make it illegal to walk across streets while texting here in Honolulu, but the measure got voted down.

It is, after all, a self-correcting problem. Just think of it as evolution in action.

[KPinSEA]

03:28 AM on 04/03/2012

I am 6'5, 250 pounds ... and no I do not get out of your way if your head is buried in your phone and you are paying no attention to where you're going.

[DeathSquad]

01:14 PM on 04/03/2012

So if I were to walk straight at you will making constant eye contact you would move?

[KPinSEA]

02:06 PM on 04/03/2012

Wouldn't fit the scenario I described, would it?

But I tend to go by the philosophy of my first skipper in sailing ... "the longer bowsprit has right of way."

[AAHewetson]

02:01 PM on 04/04/2012

I have, on several occasions, stopped and let these imPodiments walk into me. The typical response: a glare because I did not get out of their oblivious way.

[shadypotential]

10:26 PM on 04/02/2012

rain hit my building make my window cry

[odelly]

10:35 PM on 04/02/2012

cool!

[James Marcus]

08:48 PM on 04/02/2012

oy vey, we apply way too much energy on irrelevant crap then focusing on more important issues in the world.

[Acorn Tree]

07:57 PM on 04/02/2012

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

[simzillyjp]

07:53 PM on 04/02/2012

Philly has been sniffing too much New Jersey air.