Push Button for Walk Signal
I've long suspected that those buttons on corners that you're supposed to push to get a walk signal are a bizarre hoax. Just a facade created by city governments to let us pedestrians feel like we possess some small measure of control. Now
this article (NY Times, reg. req.) largely confirms my suspicion. The article only discusses New York City, but I think the situation is the same throughout most of the country.
Posted By: Alex | Date:
Mon Mar 01, 2004 |
Permalink |
Total Comments: 30
Category:
Law/Police/Crime
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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There are various types of pedestrian signals (in the UK alone!), but nearly all are 'demand dependant' (the exception being busy town centres during office hours), which basically means that at a junction they are given a 'window of opportunity' within a full traffic cycle - if there is no pedestrian demand then the traffic phases are extended.
At a Pedestrian crossing the green man should 'gap-out' when there are oncoming vehicles detected, they should not change instantly if there is an (immediate) risk of the vehicles having to slam on their brakes to stop in time, when the gap-out period expires the signals should give a green to Peds. If there is a break in traffic the signals should change almost instantly.
But like most electrical equipment, traffic signals develop faults, like the ones previously mentioned, these should be reported to your local authority or the police to investigate. (BTW, flashing your lights at traffic signals doesn't make them change, but don't tell the Taxi drivers, lol).
Posted by Darren in Hampshire, UK. on Fri Jul 16, 2004 at 10:32 AM
Hey kid in class wasting time, the pedestrain buttons have been around longer than the Bush administration, so read up a little so I dont have to support you through welfare, dumbass
Posted by Bush Supporter on Fri Jul 22, 2005 at 11:11 AM
okay . how do you make the street lights change qwuicker like therews gotta be some morse code .
Posted by Nadia in Canada on Fri Nov 18, 2005 at 01:19 PM
the button is not a hoax, you have to understand it to be able to use it right. I am an engineer so I think I finaly got it figured out!
there is what is called a capicator behind the button, if left unpressed for too long, it builds enough power to change the light signal. However, after you press the button, the capacitor uses it accumulated power so it is emptied out. It also gets emptied out when the normal cycle/pattern of green, yellow, red go.
In others words. If the green man JUST became red for pedestrians, you do not have the power to make him green again, but if it was a long time ago since the green man was present, you have the power to get him back!!
Posted by somaia on Fri May 11, 2007 at 09:57 AM
On main street in front of the waterfront, there is a tall post with a signal on top of it. The signal is viewable from the other side of the street. There is a button on the post, but no signal on the other side! there never was! This is proof that the buttons go to nothing. It is just for gullable retards who like to hear the clicker click just like a baby. Also, the signals change by themselves every 30-45 minutes (seriously) whether or not you press the clicker. Also, the clickers are just strapped onto the posts, and if you hit it hard enough, thewhole box moves. Also, one of the clickers on stillwater is so loose that you can make it do a 360 around the post with just one push
Posted by Braden in Bangor, ME on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I was walking to the mall one time, and I saw something very strange. There were construction people putting up new walk signal buttons. They just strapped them on without any electrical connection. They are fake
Posted by Braden in bangor on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I saw the one on Main Street. It is so easy to know that the buttons are fake. Braden, you are right to call them clickers. That is the only thing that they can do. I saw one the other day smashed open with grafitti nearby. It was one of the bright yellow ones with the HUGE silver dome in it. The dome was on the ground, but there are no wires inside of it. There is a pipe goinge fromit to the signal, but it is to trick people.
Posted by Alex in Bangor on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:48 AM
Everyone knows the disposable camera shocking you. When you press the flash button without anything over it, just the bare metal, you get a big shock. Think about this: If the metal buttons are real with any power going to them, you would feel a small shock or vibration of your hand when you pressed it. They are made so smart people know right off the bat that they are fake, but dumb gullible people think they are real. There is a crossing gaurd on most intersections before and after school hours. They are there so kids dont get hit by walking when the signal says to. They only say walk when cars are coming, and still at the exact same time if you press the clicker. The underground traffic sensor controls the traffic lights, and also the signals!
Posted by Braden in Bangor on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 02:54 AM
I know that the buttons are fake because they press just like a spring. The yellow ones are obviously fake because most of them are welded to the housing. The city officials call this the "pre-pressed" version of the button so you dont have to push it to cross.
Also, there is a button around the Hampden area that is attached to a crooked wooden post. I know that it is fake because they have moved the post to different spots to see where the most people notice it and press it.
Posted by Elton in Bangor on Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 12:52 PM
On state street, the walk signals change automatically at the same time no matter if the clicker is pressed or not. It looks retarded when they change by themselves and the clicker just looks stupid as it is there, but does absolutely nothing but click. There is a gap between the box that the clicker is on and the clicker itself. This is proof that the clickers have no electrical connection between them and the post/walksignal.
Posted by Braden in Bangor on Thu Dec 04, 2008 at 03:29 AM
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