Inner-city bike lanes are commonplace, but have you heard about cellphone lanes?

The Chinese city of Chongqing has launched the concept in an attempt to separate people who want to use their mobile phones whilst walking on the sidewalk from those who don't, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The lane dedicated to mobile phones tells pedestrians:
The lane dedicated to mobile phones tells pedestrians: "Walk in this lane at your own risk." - Photo courtesy of bbc.com

A section of the city's sidewalk has been clearly divided in two using white markings, with one half featuring an image of a phone and the caption: "Cellphones / Walk in this lane at your own risk." The second half features the same image struck out, with the caption "No cellphones."

The no-cellphone lane was first tested out in the US earlier this year for a National Geographic TV program filmed in Washington DC.

Chongqing is a popular destination for domestic tourists. - Photo courtesy of bbc.com
Chongqing is a popular destination for domestic tourists. - Photo courtesy of bbc.com

There are an estimated 1.2 billion mobile phones in use in China. - Photo courtesy of bbc.com
There are an estimated 1.2 billion mobile phones in use in China. - Photo courtesy of bbc.com