NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/uploaded_images/Signal-Walk-Don%27t%20Walk-704451.jpg

So, while I was on vacation, I went to the Wilmington Ghost Walk Tour, and during this two hour tour we came across several walk signals that has buttons like these.

http://www.freefoto.com/images/1211/18/1211_18_73---Push-button-wait-for-walk-signal--Boston--Massachusetts_web.jpg

We pressed them every time we came to a walk signal, but the only time the signal would change was when the traffic light changed also. So I have to wonder, do those little button really do anything, or are they're just there so that Pedestrian feel like they have control over the situation?

Yeah, they don't do anything.

Yeah, they don't do anything.

The people who installed those buttons are laughing at me right now, aren't they? :(

We don't have those kinds of buttons here.

The people who installed those buttons are laughing at me right now, aren't they? :(

Quite possibly. Though, to be fair, I think some of them work in some places.

we have those kinds of buttons here in Finland.(at least near the capital).but most just don't wait for the light and just cross the street as soon as they get there.not me.

talking of pedestrian traffic lights. These are my favourite, i love that the issue of including a hat was apparently so contentious! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampelm%C3%A4nnchen)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ampelmaenner.jpg

All traffic signs here have the buttons and they do work. They do not work in the sense that you push the button and you get a green light immediately. They work in the sense that if you do not push the button, you will never get a green light and the drivers will never get a red light because of a pedestrian crossing the street.

So, the buttons work just like the sensors in the asphalt for cars. You won't get a green light just because you approach a traffic light, but you will never get a green light unless you set off the sensors (I've had that happen to me once, stopping between the light and the sensor as the light turned red, no cars behind me - had to reverse a metre or so to get a green light).

talking of pedestrian traffic lights. These are my favourite, i love that the issue of including a hat was apparently so contentious! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampelm%C3%A4nnchen)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ampelmaenner.jpg

we hav that kind of traffic lights.although it's just this guy with no hat.

All traffic signs here have the buttons and they do work. They do not work in the sense that you push the button and you get a green light immediately. They work in the sense that if you do not push the button, you will never get a green light and the drivers will never get a red light because of a pedestrian crossing the street.

So, the buttons work just like the sensors in the asphalt for cars. You won't get a green light just because you approach a traffic light, but you will never get a green light unless you set off the sensors (I've had that happen to me once, stopping between the light and the sensor as the light turned red, no cars behind me - had to reverse a metre or so to get a green light).
yeah.

and it may be that if you press the walk button you will get a longer green than the light usually allows.

There are two types where I live, ones that are at junctions and ones at pedestrian crossings. The ones at junctions do nothing, the signals are designed to keep traffic flowing and the buttons don't interfere. The buttons at pedestrian corssings do work, more or less instantly.

We pressed them every time we came to a walk signal, but the only time the signal would change was when the traffic light changed also. So I have to wonder, do those little button really do anything, or are they're just there so that Pedestrian feel like they have control over the situation?

Well it is kind of a given that the traffic light has to change in order for you to cross the street. Unless of course you want to get hit by oncoming traffic. :p

In my experience you get a little bit longer of a green light when the pedestrian button is pushed. What is normally a 10 second green light turns into a 30 second one.

We pressed them every time we came to a walk signal, but the only time the signal would change was when the traffic light changed also. So I have to wonder, do those little button really do anything, or are they're just there so that Pedestrian feel like they have control over the situation?

Looks like a regular walk signal to me. Normally they don't change unless the light also changes from red to green in the same direction as the pedestrians are going. If the button is not pushed, the walk signal is not displayed, but instead the "don't walk" or red hand signal.

We pressed them every time we came to a walk signal, but the only time the signal would change was when the traffic light changed also. So I have to wonder, do those little button really do anything, or are they're just there so that Pedestrian feel like they have control over the situation?

Here the buttons have an effect on intersection lights outside of peak hours.

That is, before 7 and after 9 in the morning until around 5 pm. They start having an effect again about 8 pm. However there is local variation on this.

The walk signal won't come on if you don't push them.

If they are actuated lights, it let's the computer thing know to give more than a 10 second light.

Pedestrians have to wait their turn, just like the cars do. Pedestrians don't get to jump to the front of the queue.

I know we have them in Canada but they don't really work unless your downtown in the biggest cities and then acasionally it make the red go a little faster.