With the exception of those people who walk down the street and read a book at the same time (who the fuck are they kidding?), people who walk and text are perhaps the most annoying pedestrians in the world. But this anti-social behaviour, far from being discouraged, is evidently being endorsed by authorities, as seen this week in East London. In what smells a lot like a mobile phone industry “street
marketing” ploy, all the lampposts on Brick Lane were wrapped in padded cushions so that people who walk and text wouldn’t bump into them and hurt themselves.

The East London thoroughfare was singled out as the most dangerous
place in city to walk n’ text following a spate of lamppost
collisions resulting in bruises and broken cheekbones. If the
scheme is successful it will be rolled out across the
capital. Apparently, 68,000 Britons have injured themselves while
walking and texting in the past year.

What is wrong with people?
Instead of wrapping the world up in cotton wool so that it’s safe for
walk n’ texters, we should be doing the opposite. We ought to cover our
lampposts with metal spikes and barbed wire in order to maximize the
risk of injury. That’ll teach them to look where they’re going, no?

UPDATE: Just as we suspected, this was a telcom stunt after all. When we sent our intern down to take a photo of the cushioned lampposts he could not find any. After talking to local shopkeepers it seems the mysterious pads were only up for five minutes and then removed when Tower Hamlets council sent down cleaning contractors.