School creates ‘texting lane’ for people who can’t look up from their phone

A new solution to a problem that has plagued students and school employees everywhere has been found, because we all agree that “there’s nothing worse than walking behind someone who’s texting.”

Utah Valley University is giving students who can’t seem to look up from their phones long enough to see where they’re going their own designated lane, reports the Associated Press.

The neon-green lanes painted on the stairs leading up to the gym were intended to be a fun way to brighten up the space and get the students’ attention, and that’s just what it did.

A picture of the stairs divvied up into three sections – one for running, one for walking and one for texting – generated a lot of buzz after it was shared online.

Tasia Briggs, 22, told AP that smartphone messaging – whether it’s through texts, Snapchat, Twitter or Instagram – is a big part of how her generation communicates, so it’s cool that the college is acknowledging it.

Though the lames are limited to the school’s recreation center, she wouldn’t mind seeing it catch on all around campus.

“It’s kind of funny,” said 22-year-old student Chelsea Meza. “You walk down the hallway and instead of saying hi, everyone is walking and texting.” According to her, half of the students who see the lane really use them for their designated purpose.

Spokesperson Melinda Colton said that she has yet to see this tried out at any other college campus, however, it’s not the first time that it has ever been done.

Officials said they first got the idea from a behavior experiment created by National Geographic Television in Washington, D.C. The smartphone lanes attracted attention there also, but people using their phones generally didn’t notice them.

The lime-green paint used strays away from the red-brick-and-ivy aesthetic typically seen at the university, 26-year-old Sam Hadlock told AP, but the typographic was a favourite among government leaders.

“I think it’s fun and great to see current design on a university campus,” he said.