Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
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Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#2I'm fairly convinced, with the exception of a handful, pretty much all the crossing buttons in Brooklyn NY are placebos.
I've seen people roundhouse kick the thing (not an exaggeration) and it makes sense to have one that doesn't work since if it did previously, this treatment would kill it in no time.
Also, newer ones are popping up that aren't spring based, but are touch sensitive instead. Basically a shiny Aluminum or Zinc knob that beeps to let you know it's pushed. I think these are more effective since with the old ones, you're not even sure if the push got received.
It makes sense to have buttons that work in places where people actually expect functionality and such is desired. Not in a place where the default is impatience followed by vandalism.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#3I pay way too much attention to these things. I have found on my walk to work, some buttons which do nothing, some which you must press and some you must press if it is after 10pm.
At least where I live, it depends on the intersection. So don't assume anything.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#4Not nearly as annoying as lift/elevator buttons.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#5In my hometown they replaced old buttons that emitted a sound and a visual cue (green light silhouette on the device) with touch-sensitive devices that doesn't blink, sound or anything. For months we kept on 'pushing' on it and then once or twice I saw some of them being lit for a few days and now they still seem to be 'dead'. Something's wrong with the interface and the local authorities badly managing urban infrastructure.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#6In York (UK) it is a mixed bag. There are a couple of simple pedestrian crossings near my home where the lights never change without a press and change very quickly once requested. At junctions it is more complex and seems to vary: some definitely have their sequence altered by specific pedestrian requests, some definitely seem not to. I've not noted if any vary by time of day, as some people report.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#7There's some next-level traffic light voodoo I often see people attempting in the UK, which is repeatedly pressing the button. I like the idea that it's a democratic process: only when pedestrians outnumber cars will the lights change.
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#8The linked "secret button" article discussion is at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5792039
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#9Not nearly as annoying as lift/elevator buttons.
You need a paternoster lift:
Re: Does pressing the pedestrian crossing button actually do anything?
#10In York (UK) it is a mixed bag. There are a couple of simple pedestrian crossings near my home where the lights never change without a press and change very quickly once requested. At junctions it is more complex and seems to vary: some definitely have their sequence altered by specific pedestrian requests, some definitely seem not to. I've not noted if any vary by time of day, as some people report.
Any crossing near a school will generally change very quickly after a button press, but only during the school-run hours. Knowing which these are can noticeably accelerate ones journey to and from work.