Why do shop owners in Taiwan use kitchen tiles in the sidewalks in front of their stores?

When it rains, it's slippery and it could cause an accident. Is there a law that says one can sue them when it happens?

Public Comments

1. It is easier to clean them, will not stick dirt. It will be difficult to sue them, they will ask that you make a detour instead.
2. Not only slippery, but you can also fall on sharp corners and even die if you landed right.. It HAS happened. An Indonesian girl died from a fall on some granite stairs about two years ago at an Indonesian shop/party central, one festive Sunday in Kaohsiung I know what you mean. It is a combination of bad city planning, lack of space, tacky taste, and greed. They are nice enough people that they would probably help pay your medical bills if it really happened. (if you survived) Welcome to Taiwan
3. MWHAHAHAA! Law! Suing! Are you from P.C. land? been wearing your tin foil hats and bike helmets too tightly ?! My theory is the merchants do this for their own convienience of washing down each night more quickly by spraying down the area. the food waste doesn't stick to tile very well. of course nor do our shoes, but that is our problem not theirs! That being said, you could complain to the police and give them an excuse to crack down on the offending merchant for more tea money. That *MAY* cause a change of surfacing in front of the building, but probably after the cops shake down the guy he wont have any cash left to resurface anyways. If you personally fall you may be able to extract some medical fees out of the guy for the hospital cost THAT day, get your hand/ankle cast paid for. long term brain injury- nope... get the shotgun for frontier medicine, or commit seppeku! keep your hands empty on slippy days- and invest in a good backpack. (It keeps your hands available and protects your neck and back a bit) If you are so worried, you probably can invest in wrist guards. (that starts looking nutty though, but you sound like that type.) Start praying to your hello kitties kids! Luck is all that saves you here! The law doesn't work too well anywhere these days. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE: your best bet is to pay the guy to do it with your own cash if you are really worried. or if you know a city government rep personally you may have a chance to get them to help pay up for it. A better bet is to create a 'community business' association for your immediate area and have people pool money to develop the infrastructure of their immediate area and cut the cops and the government out of it entirely. Otherwise you are just another greedy parasite out for your own version of robbery on somebody who probably never thought of safety in that way. Lawyers never made the world a better place. This I can guarantee you, I have spoken to enough ex-lawyers- no problems between individuals can be solved by people spouting B.S. at each other. People looking past their differences and helping each other in spite of all the laws attempting to prevent them from doing so, instead of wasting time pointing fingers is what makes the world better. Speak softly and carry a big stick.