Slow Lanes For Smartphone Users Installed In Busy Manchester Area

If you're one of those people who walks around with their head buried in your phone, you'll be glad to learn that there is now a slow lane in Manchester for people just like you to do that and not be bothered.

Equally, if you're the kind of person who follows behind, harbouring dark thoughts about punching such people in the head, this is also - when you think about it - good news too.

Basically, if you're a pedestrian in Manchester's Spinningfields area you can now browse Twitter whilst you walk down the road with complete impunity.

For those not familiar with the area, Spinningfields is an area full of bars, restaurants and - you've guessed it - idiots who spend all day on their phones.

This, then, is the perfect place to trial this useful scheme.

Except, of course, it's not an officially sanctioned scheme. It's just a promotional stunt set up by new phone retailer AO Mobile.

They've seen some research that suggests that 75 percent of British people cut about while focusing on their phones. You all know who you are, you dogs.

AO also discovered that up to 40 percent of UK folks reckon that the authorities should step in when people are walking on their phones.

So, this lane sorts both problems, right?

AO spokesperson Richard Baxendale: "We have to be realistic and responsible when it comes to the way society is changing,

"Our research found Brits being distracted by technology when walking is becoming an issue people want tackled.

"Our trial slow lane is an important first step that may well be adopted by other cities in the future.

"AO Mobile is all about making mobile phones simpler and we wanted to highlight that people should pay attention to our new deals and customer service, rather than keeping their head down and missing out."

Well, this definitely isn't going to cause a fist fight, right?

Don't worry though, because the slow lanes might not be here to stay. There isn't actually any information as to whether they will be sticking around and - obviously - they weren't put there by the cops, they were put there by a phone company.

If you're that angry that you still wanna cut across, be my guest.

However, if you are in the Chinese city of Chongqing, there are actually enforced lanes that have been there since 2014.

This is the first time we've seen them in the UK, so far. Let's hope it doesn't catch on.

Featured Image Credit: AO Mobile

Topics: UK News, Technology, Weird

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim