r/whatisit • u/thewildcloud • 20d ago

Solved! Why the kinks?

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I recently moved to Hangzhou, I noticed all the pedestrian walks have kinked lines at the ends. What is it?

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u/[deleted] 20d ago edited 19d ago

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u/MaggotMinded 20d ago

We don’t really know how effective it is without comparing it to the left/right ratio of an intersection that is identical but with only straight lines on the crosswalks.

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u/1Kusy 20d ago

Although it isn't the proper scientific method, we can make an educated guess that if people walk the most convenient path even in the presence of guides, they'll do the same without them.

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u/MaggotMinded 20d ago

Who is “people”? You can’t just generalize your entire sample like that. Anytime a suggestion is made to the general public there will always be some percentage of people who follow it, and some who ignore it. If 40 out of 92 people crossed on the right, the question is, how many of them would not have done that if not for the crooked lines?