StareClips.com's Comments
This post makes an assumption that I think is an incorrect one. One would hope that those who push the button do not know for certain that it does not work.
In my area, nearly all of the buttons work. If nobody pushes the buttons, the traffic lights continue to work, but there is never an opportunity for someone to cross the street. There is always traffic... whether straight-through traffic or turning traffic... passing through the crosswalk.
In fact, I have seen many people who, like fools, do not push the button, then act frustrated when they can't cross forever.
Not truly understanding how the button works (no, it is not an instant button to change the traffic signal that moment) leads some to believe they do nothing. However, there is never a clear understanding.
I cannot walk up to a crosswalk and KNOW whether the button does anything useful, whether it has been deactivated, how that particular button will function. Some will almost appear to begin changing the signal immediately... others take their time.
Without consistency and without an interface to show whether the button is activated or deactivated, the user is only left with pure speculation and assumption. So, if there is a possibility it might be functioning, I'm going to press it. If I know for sure that it absolutely does not work and is not needed, I won't press it. It's that simple.
It isn't about a bunch of troglodytes pushing disabled buttons because they have been programmed to do so. It's about the lack of proper communication. If a button has truly been disabled, it should be removed. If it still exists, it must be because it still works.
In my area, nearly all of the buttons work. If nobody pushes the buttons, the traffic lights continue to work, but there is never an opportunity for someone to cross the street. There is always traffic... whether straight-through traffic or turning traffic... passing through the crosswalk.
In fact, I have seen many people who, like fools, do not push the button, then act frustrated when they can't cross forever.
Not truly understanding how the button works (no, it is not an instant button to change the traffic signal that moment) leads some to believe they do nothing. However, there is never a clear understanding.
I cannot walk up to a crosswalk and KNOW whether the button does anything useful, whether it has been deactivated, how that particular button will function. Some will almost appear to begin changing the signal immediately... others take their time.
Without consistency and without an interface to show whether the button is activated or deactivated, the user is only left with pure speculation and assumption. So, if there is a possibility it might be functioning, I'm going to press it. If I know for sure that it absolutely does not work and is not needed, I won't press it. It's that simple.
It isn't about a bunch of troglodytes pushing disabled buttons because they have been programmed to do so. It's about the lack of proper communication. If a button has truly been disabled, it should be removed. If it still exists, it must be because it still works.
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Sometimes the sensors which detect the presence of a car do not work properly. So, in the middle of the night, when there are NO CARS on the road (except for mine), I could sit at a red light forever (quite literally). Sure, I could back up and drive forward and try all sorts of tricks with my car. But, quite often, the most effective method is to just get out of the car and push the appropriate crosswalk button which will immediately start the process which will lead to my light turning green. By the time I am back in my car and buckled up, I've got the green light.