Placebo Pedestrian Push Buttons
Jul 11, 2019 08:43:46 #
Come to New York City, and find that many New Yorkers despise pedestrian push buttons. There's a notion that they didn't work since the get-go. They were, however, once operable, but the city's D.O.T. disconnected many from useful service in the 1980s. Since then, many have been left still intact. Some people still think they work and you're sure to see people madly hitting the button over and over again to get across the street faster. Others have some really odd beliefs, such as they were originally intended to act as "placebo buttons."
Could it be that city officials believe that vehicular traffic is more important than pedestrians?
I dare say that most U.S. big cities have pedestrian push buttons, and I haven't found one that works in any city for many decades. Methinks they are all "placebo buttons."
Could it be that city officials believe that vehicular traffic is more important than pedestrians?
I dare say that most U.S. big cities have pedestrian push buttons, and I haven't found one that works in any city for many decades. Methinks they are all "placebo buttons."
Jul 11, 2019 08:50:42 #
OR- to get people to simply wait for the walk signal which normally appears???
Jul 11, 2019 09:49:01 #
Jul 11, 2019 10:02:04 #
Jul 11, 2019 10:02:19 #
I spend a lot of time in NY and don’t think I’ve ever seen these anywhere in the City. Maybe somewhere in the outer boroughs but definitely not in Manhattan...which is what “the City” is to the folks who live in and around NY.
Jul 12, 2019 06:56:15 #
Jul 12, 2019 08:59:38 #
They do serve a perfectly good purpose when used properly. Sorry, couldn't help myself, had to jump in and say that (I'm a traffic engineer).
Jul 12, 2019 09:24:05 #
Jul 12, 2019 09:49:21 #
Apparently, you are not knowledgeable regarding how these buttons work. The other possibility is the number of cities which you have visited is limited.
--Bob
--Bob
bobbyjohn wrote:
Come to New York City, and find that many New York... (show quote)
Jul 12, 2019 09:56:20 #
Wherever I have lived/visited the buttons seem to work as expected in a positive manner.
As Bob suggests, perhaps the amount of cities you have visited is limited.
Dennis
As Bob suggests, perhaps the amount of cities you have visited is limited.
Dennis
Jul 12, 2019 10:17:11 #
Many of the ones out here in CA also beep to alert visually impaired people when they have the right of way. Not too helpful for the hearing impaired, but then, they can see the lights change.
Jul 12, 2019 11:16:30 #
Actually as a resident of one of the outer boroughs I believe 'The City' is anti vehicle, look at the stupid regulations we put up with, the extra fees, the pot holes and the bike lanes, 'The City' is anti car!!!
Jul 12, 2019 11:23:27 #
gleneric wrote:
They do serve a perfectly good purpose when used properly. Sorry, couldn't help myself, had to jump in and say that (I'm a traffic engineer).
What does that statement even mean? I always push them, then curse the time it takes for the light to change. What really works is the traffic cross signal countdown. Even from my car, I watch that, eagerly waiting for the "0" to appear!
Jul 12, 2019 11:39:15 #
The statement means exactly what it says ... pedestrian push buttons serve a specific purpose, and are essential in certain circumstances.
In locations where numbers of pedestrians are not high, the timing of the traffic signals is usually optimized for the vehicular movements, with a separate set of parameters established for those signal cycles when a pedestrian needs to cross. Pushing the button sends a "call" to the signal controller which then ensures that the pedestrian "walk" symbol is displayed at the next available opportunity. It may (or may not, depending on how it is programmed) shorten the green time for other signal phases in order to get the "walk" symbol displayed sooner, but rarely are things set such that pushing the button immediately gives the pedestrian complete priority. The lack of an instantaneous display of the pedestrian "walk" is what frustrates people and makes them think that the button is useless ... though buttons do fail and need replacement sometimes. The common practice of standing there banging the button continuously really serves no purpose other than "venting" I suppose. Even worse is hitting every pedestrian button at a signal that has buttons for different directions of pedestrian movement ... that could end up with there being more delay in you getting the "walk" symbol you are waiting for.
In locations where numbers of pedestrians are not high, the timing of the traffic signals is usually optimized for the vehicular movements, with a separate set of parameters established for those signal cycles when a pedestrian needs to cross. Pushing the button sends a "call" to the signal controller which then ensures that the pedestrian "walk" symbol is displayed at the next available opportunity. It may (or may not, depending on how it is programmed) shorten the green time for other signal phases in order to get the "walk" symbol displayed sooner, but rarely are things set such that pushing the button immediately gives the pedestrian complete priority. The lack of an instantaneous display of the pedestrian "walk" is what frustrates people and makes them think that the button is useless ... though buttons do fail and need replacement sometimes. The common practice of standing there banging the button continuously really serves no purpose other than "venting" I suppose. Even worse is hitting every pedestrian button at a signal that has buttons for different directions of pedestrian movement ... that could end up with there being more delay in you getting the "walk" symbol you are waiting for.
Jul 12, 2019 11:41:01 #
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