Distracted walking.  Digital Deadwalkers.  (Could be the theme of a modern zombie movie)  I talked about this eight years ago.  Pedestrians who trip over curbs, bump into people, or step into traffic.   Wexting, walking while texting, although it also could be checking emails, news or sports feeds, or social media.   No matter.  It’s a public safety hazard, especially when crossing the street at an intersection.  There was a Dutch town trying an experiment in 2017 where they installed traffic lights in the sidewalk at intersections.  Now there’s a novel idea.   I looked for an updated story on this but couldn’t find one.   I did see where similar experimental initiatives were launched during the past few years in Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, two cities in Germany and one in China, and in Stockholm, Sweden, artists erected cheeky warning signs showing two pedestrians bent over their phones.  Of course, any such initiatives can only be effective if pedestrians actually decide to cross the street at a traffic light rather than wherever and whenever it’s most convenient for them.  Here in Saskatoon, the weather has an influence on distracted walking with the head down staring at a smartphone screen.  During the warmer times of the year you can notice the pedestrians waiting to cross at an intersection doing exactly that.  However, when it’s minus 20 plus windchill, uh-uh, not so much.  Fingers covered with gloves or mitts aren’t too nimble on the phone, are they? 

That’s Coffeetalk.  I’m Vic Dubois.