Posted on 08/02/2017 10:42:54 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
Have you ever felt like those crosswalk buttons were placed at intersections around the city only to test your patience?
For 8 in every 10 crosswalk buttons in San Francisco, your frustration may be valid.
The Boston Transportation Department revealed that buttons scattered throughout Boston do absolutely nothing when pressed. When officials were asked why these buttons lacked function, they had a simple explanation: One person shouldn't be able to change complex traffic patterns in a major city.
In San Francisco, 251 of the 1,222 intersection crosswalk buttons are "pedestrian actuated,"meaning they actually affect the traffic lights and can change the signal, according to data provided by the SFMTA.
Each of the intersections with the "pedestrian actuated" feature can be found in the map below. Some of San Francisco's heaviest streets for traffic-changing buttons include First Street, Third Street, 19th Street, Bayshore, and the Embarcadero.
For the remaining 971 buttons, APS comes into play. The APS acts as an indicator to the visually impaired for when it is safe to cross the street. That explains the repetitive, jackhammer-like noise pedestrians hear from the buttons.
Ninety of the 251 pedestrian-actuated buttons have the dual purpose of APS and changing the traffic signals.
"Bottom line, if the button does not have a useful purpose, it is removed," Rose added.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I have wondered about this. I have often thought that they were nothing but placebos.
I have always suspected those buttons to be fakes in every place on earth.................
Agreed. I wonder if this is the case in most cities...
Only 80%? Shocked they bothered to hook the others up to anything. Yes folks the crosswalk buttons of the world do nothing. What, did you think pushing the button would change the cycle of the lights and they’d all the cars stop for you?
Like the door close buttons on elevators.
I think the only place they actually work is where it takes someone hitting the button to get the light to change at all.
As a motorcycle rider, on at least one occasion I got off my bike and hit the pedestrian crosswalk button to get the light to change.
I don’t think those buttons do anything throughout the entire US:-)
You can just imagine 100 boys going to 100 intersections to test it out.
They are there to stop people from Jay walking / getting hit by cars.
If people think the light will change sooner by pressing the button, the more likely they will press it & stay put and not cross during the red.
But it makes them “feel” like it works.
That would have never happened in Mike Stone’s city.
I do know that some in my neighborhood to work. If I see a pedestrian crossing I know I have more time to make the light.
I have trouble believing this.
In Seattle, most downtown cross walk signals are set to automatically come on, which might be what the author is talking about.
However, in the high traffic suburb area where I live, if you don’t punch the “Walk” button, the “Walk” signal NEVER comes on!
I know one thing, crossings aside, I am really tired of the signals in our little town giving “immediate” priority to side small side street traffic over main thoroughfare traffic.
The signals don’t even make side traffic wait one second to gain access over mass main street priority traffic. they turn in their favor immediately making everyone on the main street lock up their brakes for one car.
It’s completely backwards from what it should be and a true safety hazard.
A typical pedestrian button isn’t intended to change the light to green right away. It’s supposed to alert the signal controller that the next green phase that is usually short should be extended by several seconds to allow pedestrians enough time to cross a wide street.
They don’t do anything in Irvine CA either.
LOL - like elevator ‘call’ buttons?
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