when you cross at the pedestrian crossing with the lights that tell pedetrains when to walk and do not walk?

Question

if you dont press the button, will they still eventually display the walk sign. If so, whats the use of pressing the button, does it speed it up? Or is it pointless?

Answer 1

Some places (esp those with high ped xing activity) are setup to automatically change to "Walk" during the cycle. Others will not change unless you press the button.

There are even places where all four vehicle traffic directions are given a red light so that all the walk lights can come on. Some intersections have a "Cross-Crosswalk" (a diagonal crosswalk). Those require a red light for all four vehicle directions.

Pressing the button will affect the change. They are not just there for decoration.

Answer 2

Some intersections will not give the walk signal, nor keep the light green long enough to safely cross unless someone hits the button.

Also, quite a few intersections in my town have the side streets equipped with vehicle sensors. If no cars are attempting to come out of a side street, the main throughway stays green. In those instances, if you didn't have a button to press, you'd be stuck waiting on a car to trip the light.

One thing is pointless for sure is pressing the button more than once. I laugh when people do that at elevators too. (It's not like its going to come faster just because you're hitting the button multiple times!)

Good Question.

Answer 3

If the green man or walk sign is coming on automaticaly without pressing the button there is a fault with the lights.
find the control box near the lights, call the no. on it and report the fault as the walk feature is only supposed to opperate when the button is pressed.

Answer 4

Lengthens the green light for people to walk across.