Colin Lecher at Popular Science writes:

In Vancouver, the humble doorknob is being phased out. Kind of. Effective in March, new housing will be required to install levers on doors and faucets, instead of the good-ol' round knobs of our forefathers.

It's an ergonomics issue, but more importantly than that, it's an accessibility issue for people who suffer from arthritis. (Plus, doorknobs are unavoidably germ-ridden, too, while you can open most lever doorknobs with your elbow.) Critics claim that lever doorknobs could make it easy for children or pets to escape houses. What do you think?