Indeed, that's why they often have dummy buttons for pedestrians to press, a placebo to give an impression of control over a facility that isn't for their benefit.That is what pelican crossings are for, to stop pedestrians crossing the road and holding up the traffic.
Dummy buttons, the very existence of which simply pronounces on the third-class status of pedestrians in our public space. "You are cattle to be herded. You are sheep to be duped. Drones with only an illusion of control and autonomy."Indeed, that's why they often have dummy buttons for pedestrians to press, a placebo to give an impression of control over a facility that isn't for their benefit.
I just like Hummers. And tanks. Mrs Drago had to recently wrestle me away from the keyboard to prevent me putting a snipe bid in on an Alvis Stalwart.
Dummy buttons, the very existence of which simply pronounces on the third-class status of pedestrians in our public space. "You are cattle to be herded. You are sheep to be duped. Drones with only an illusion of control and autonomy."
The very worst aspect of our motor-centric culture. Why do we put up with it?
They have them for cyclists too, I'm always surprised at the number who press them when they haven't worked out how a particular set of lights work. The ones I use regularly I get to know.Indeed, that's why they often have dummy buttons for pedestrians to press, a placebo to give an impression of control over a facility that isn't for their benefit.
There's one junction near me where I press the button just for the green man. It can get so busy that cars will try to slip through on red to save waiting. If the green man's on, and they only come on when the button's been pressed, I can at least point to it when someone tries to slip through.They have them for cyclists too, I'm always surprised at the number who press them when they haven't worked out how a particular set of lights work. The ones I use regularly I get to know.
Dummy buttons, the very existence of which simply pronounces on the third-class status of pedestrians in our public space. "You are cattle to be herded. You are sheep to be duped. Drones with only an illusion of control and autonomy."
The very worst aspect of our motor-centric culture. Why do we put up with it?
Perhaps there's change afoot: http://www.koreus.com/video/lecon-automobilistes-passage-pieton.html
He gets a round of applause from me.
GC
The worst aspect of pelican crossings is the unnecessary delay in changing. I can understand it in the interests of balancing the goes fairly if there has just been a pedestrian phase. When no one has crossed in several minutes though, what sense is there in making the pedestrian wait? A frequent consequence is that they have crossed and gone before the lights change and people in cars sit there fuming. It serves no one's interests.
The reason for this is most likely that the system is linked to a wider network of signals and is waiting for a gap to appear in the traffic, so that the crossing can change when it will cause least inconvenience to the people who matter most. In other words, the crossing doesn't change until a gap appear that you'd have crossed on anyway, and because the system will have to be more cautious than a person, it will usually change after you've crossed, thereby annoying everyone!The worst aspect of pelican crossings is the unnecessary delay in changing. I can understand it in the interests of balancing the goes fairly if there has just been a pedestrian phase. When no one has crossed in several minutes though, what sense is there in making the pedestrian wait? A frequent consequence is that they have crossed and gone before the lights change and people in cars sit there fuming. It serves no one's interests.