Blind Sidewalk
I took this picture close to where I work at the World Plaza in Pudong. Look closely to discern the strip of patterned sidewalk that bypasses the manhole on the left. At first, I thought that this line of bumpy tile found throughout the city was just decoration to give the city’s streets a common look. It’s less pleasant to walk over than the flat area, so I also guessed that it could be meant to ward off the cyclists and motorcyclists who occasionally use the sidewalks even though they have their own lane.
Blind Strip
When I saw the same strip in the metro, I knew it had to have a function. A continuous blind sidewalk is common in Chinese cities, but I have never seen a blind person use the one in Shanghai. On a separate note, look at the television screen in the subway. Though the transit and wait times are relatively short compared to NYC – I’ve never waited for more than 7 minutes – screens are also located in each metro car. These days, they’ve been showing almost nonstop footage of the Haiti quake, breaking only for Chinese commercials. Lastly, note the platform-to-ceiling glass that contain people on the platform when it’s crowded and probably keep government HVAC expenditures down. Previously, subways rides and taxi fares were more expensive. Now, the government subsidizes public transportation. As locals say, “our government is very rich.” Shanghai takes good care of the people within its jurisdiction.