Out of the Way Slow Walkers

A retailer in Liverpool has installed a new 'fast track' pedestrian lane outside its store to separate the slow from the hurried.

1 minute read

November 6, 2015, 7:00 AM PST

By jwilliams @jwillia22


NYC-crosswalk

Garyisajoke / Flickr

U.K. retailer Argos has answered the prayers of many by creating a cheeky solution to the colliding paths of fast and slow walkers. By painting separate walking lanes outside of the Liverpool One shopping center, the hope is to allow faster walkers to bypass the dawdlers and window shoppers that can clog up sidewalks. Eric Jaffe reports in CityLab that the new slow and speedy lanes are going through a test phase this week to see what happens. Although it may just be a marketing stunt, the lanes serve to address a concern of many pedestrians—via The Daily Mail: "New statistics show 31 per cent of people find pavement hoggers frustrating, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) get annoyed by dawdling pedestrians."

Wednesday, November 4, 2015 in CityLab

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 7, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

The mayor of Baltimore speaks into a microphone in front of a rally for more state transportation funding from Maryland.

‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan

Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.

October 2, 2026 - Baltimore Sun

A rendering of the waterfront development, which shows a lit-up stage by the waterfront and people walking about.

Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment

Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.

October 2, 2026 - ABC 7

A crane lifts a manufactured house, with is rectangular and does not yet have a roof.

HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework

The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.

1 hour ago - Boston Real Estate Times

Cars driving into a residential neighborhood in San Fransisco.

New CA housing laws tear down development red tape

Recently-signed legislation makes building starter homes and ADUs cheaper and faster in California.

2 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

A group of politicians happily cut a blue ribbon.

Metrolink finishes first expansion in 20 years

The transit agency is now one of very few in the United States to connect two major airports.

3 hours ago - Mass Transit