Leading the Blind

Most of the sidewalks in Shanghai have a row of bricks down the middle that is different from the surrounding pavestones. They're hard to walk on because the pattern is raised, making you wobble a bit. Apparently, the stones are there to help blind people find their way around the city. They act as a tactile guide for those who can't see where they're going.

The whole city is paved with these stones. Even so, it's not exactly a blind-friendly city. Pedestrians are lowest on the traffic totem pole here, with taxis & busses whipping around corners & buzzing over crosswalks against the light. I'm sure it was a well-intended gesture, but seriously, no blind person in their right mind is going out there alone.