Utah school creates 'texting lane' for phone-focused walkers

A Utah Valley University student walks up the bright green lanes painted on the stairs to the gym Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. Utah Valley University spokeswoman Melinda Colton said the green lanes were intended as a lighthearted way to brighten up the space and get students’ attention. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)A Utah Valley University student walks up the bright green lanes painted on the stairs to the gym Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. Utah Valley University spokeswoman Melinda Colton said the green lanes were intended as a lighthearted way to brighten up the space and get students’ attention. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — One Utah university is giving students glued to their cellphones a place to call their own: a designated lane for texting while walking.
Utah Valley University spokeswoman Melinda Colton said Thursday the bright green lane painted on the stairs to the gym was intended as a lighthearted way to brighten up the space and get students' attention.
Utah Valley University students walks along the bright green lanes painted on the stairs to the gym Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. Utah Valley University spokeswoman Melinda Colton said the green lanes were intended as a lighthearted way to brighten up the space and get students’ attention. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)Utah Valley University students walks along the bright green lanes painted on the stairs to the gym Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah. Utah Valley University spokeswoman Melinda Colton said the green lanes were intended as a lighthearted way to brighten up the space and get students’ attention. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

And it worked, as a picture posted online created widespread buzz on social media this week.
Twenty-two-year-old student Chelsea Meza says the idea touches on a cultural reality in an age of ubiquitous cellphones. She says some texting students have used it.
Property managers in the Chinese city of Chongqing did something similar last year with a designated sidewalk lane for smartphone users.
Utah Valley University has 31,000-students and is about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

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