Button for pedestrian traffic lights in Germany
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I've been to Heidelberg, Germany recently and I've found things like this in most traffic lights in the city:
If I press it a message that says "bitte warten" (please wait) appears. This is not common where I come from so I don't know if pressing has any additional effect.
Does pressing reduce the waiting time? Or does it just display the message?
europe germany walking
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
add a comment |
I've been to Heidelberg, Germany recently and I've found things like this in most traffic lights in the city:
If I press it a message that says "bitte warten" (please wait) appears. This is not common where I come from so I don't know if pressing has any additional effect.
Does pressing reduce the waiting time? Or does it just display the message?
europe germany walking
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
13
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55
add a comment |
I've been to Heidelberg, Germany recently and I've found things like this in most traffic lights in the city:
If I press it a message that says "bitte warten" (please wait) appears. This is not common where I come from so I don't know if pressing has any additional effect.
Does pressing reduce the waiting time? Or does it just display the message?
europe germany walking
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
I've been to Heidelberg, Germany recently and I've found things like this in most traffic lights in the city:
If I press it a message that says "bitte warten" (please wait) appears. This is not common where I come from so I don't know if pressing has any additional effect.
Does pressing reduce the waiting time? Or does it just display the message?
europe germany walking
europe germany walking
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
edited Mar 7 '16 at 2:04
svick
1,6611716
1,6611716
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
asked Mar 6 '16 at 9:31
A. A.A. A.
1,50911533
1,50911533
13
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55
add a comment |
13
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55
13
13
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
There are three similar cases.
- There are traffic lights where the pedestrians usually have a red light and only get a green light if they request it by pushing a button. This seems to be the case in your question. A pedestrian is required to push the button and wait. (A slight variant has induction loops to detect bicycles, but pedestrians are still required to push.)
- There are traffic lights which are switched off until a pedestrian pushes a button. A pedestrian is not required to push, in that case the normal rules for an intersection/road without traffic lights apply. (Once somebody touches the button and there is a red light, you have to wait ...)
- There are audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians which can be activated by a similar-looking box.
There have been examples of the first case where the button has no effect and the green light comes according to schedule anyway. Either this has been done as a placebo to keep pedestrians from crossing at a red light, or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
|
show 8 more comments
Also note that sometimes the main traffic lights directing vehicles operate on their own schedule, and are not effected by the button, but the button controls the operation of the pedestrian walk/don't walk light.
So for example, when there is a separate light for traffic turning left off the main road, across the pedestrian crosswalk, the walk/don't walk light will normally be red, but will turn green only if both the button has been pressed and the left-turn light is not active; ie. it is letting pedestrians to know whether it is safe to cross so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
add a comment |
The ones in Heidelberg are required to get a green light as a pedestrian. If you don't press them, it never turns green, it is green for the cars all the time.
You said in comments that it turns green anyway, but somebody else must have pressed either the light on your side or on the opposite side.
For lights in other cities, other rules may apply, as discussed in other answers.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
add a comment |
In my city in Spain, those buttons reduce 1/3 the time of waiting during day schedule, and, during the night, the pedestrian lights won't ever turn green unless they are pressed.
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
add a comment |
Depends on the traffic light system in use in the particular city or at the particular traffic light.
Some, particularly in less busy areas (usually crossing a single street) keep the vehicle lights green unless someone pushes the button. Some (intersections) skip the pedestrian light cycle and keep them red if no button is pressed.
Certain intersections, particularly busy ones, stick to their cycle and have no button or sometimes even buttons with no effect (other than a little LED), just to give you the idea of having done something :)
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
add a comment |
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
There are three similar cases.
- There are traffic lights where the pedestrians usually have a red light and only get a green light if they request it by pushing a button. This seems to be the case in your question. A pedestrian is required to push the button and wait. (A slight variant has induction loops to detect bicycles, but pedestrians are still required to push.)
- There are traffic lights which are switched off until a pedestrian pushes a button. A pedestrian is not required to push, in that case the normal rules for an intersection/road without traffic lights apply. (Once somebody touches the button and there is a red light, you have to wait ...)
- There are audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians which can be activated by a similar-looking box.
There have been examples of the first case where the button has no effect and the green light comes according to schedule anyway. Either this has been done as a placebo to keep pedestrians from crossing at a red light, or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
|
show 8 more comments
There are three similar cases.
- There are traffic lights where the pedestrians usually have a red light and only get a green light if they request it by pushing a button. This seems to be the case in your question. A pedestrian is required to push the button and wait. (A slight variant has induction loops to detect bicycles, but pedestrians are still required to push.)
- There are traffic lights which are switched off until a pedestrian pushes a button. A pedestrian is not required to push, in that case the normal rules for an intersection/road without traffic lights apply. (Once somebody touches the button and there is a red light, you have to wait ...)
- There are audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians which can be activated by a similar-looking box.
There have been examples of the first case where the button has no effect and the green light comes according to schedule anyway. Either this has been done as a placebo to keep pedestrians from crossing at a red light, or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
|
show 8 more comments
There are three similar cases.
- There are traffic lights where the pedestrians usually have a red light and only get a green light if they request it by pushing a button. This seems to be the case in your question. A pedestrian is required to push the button and wait. (A slight variant has induction loops to detect bicycles, but pedestrians are still required to push.)
- There are traffic lights which are switched off until a pedestrian pushes a button. A pedestrian is not required to push, in that case the normal rules for an intersection/road without traffic lights apply. (Once somebody touches the button and there is a red light, you have to wait ...)
- There are audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians which can be activated by a similar-looking box.
There have been examples of the first case where the button has no effect and the green light comes according to schedule anyway. Either this has been done as a placebo to keep pedestrians from crossing at a red light, or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
There are three similar cases.
- There are traffic lights where the pedestrians usually have a red light and only get a green light if they request it by pushing a button. This seems to be the case in your question. A pedestrian is required to push the button and wait. (A slight variant has induction loops to detect bicycles, but pedestrians are still required to push.)
- There are traffic lights which are switched off until a pedestrian pushes a button. A pedestrian is not required to push, in that case the normal rules for an intersection/road without traffic lights apply. (Once somebody touches the button and there is a red light, you have to wait ...)
- There are audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians which can be activated by a similar-looking box.
There have been examples of the first case where the button has no effect and the green light comes according to schedule anyway. Either this has been done as a placebo to keep pedestrians from crossing at a red light, or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
edited Mar 6 '16 at 9:53
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
answered Mar 6 '16 at 9:39
o.m.o.m.
24.2k23761
24.2k23761
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
|
show 8 more comments
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
4
4
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
There are also blue ones with wheelchair / crutches signs on them that will increase the time of the green period when pressed. And either the yellow or the blue ones may have a vibrating metal plate mounted on the top to give tactile feedback to visually impaired pedestrians when the light turns green.
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:20
70
70
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
Also worth noting: contrary to what you may have observed from the behavior of the local natives, pressing the button multiple times in quick succession, pressing it a very long time, pressing it very hard, hitting / kicking it, or yelling at it will not decrease the waiting time :-D
– Jörg W Mittag
Mar 6 '16 at 11:22
27
27
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
A third possibility is that at some times of the day the light stays red until the button is pressed, and at other times of they day the whole intersection works to a fixed schedule and ignores the button.
– Henning Makholm
Mar 6 '16 at 11:38
7
7
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
There's also the possibility that this is a crossing on a major road, and there is a junction with a minor road. The lights will go to red on the major road and green on the minor road and pedestrian crossing when either a vehicle is waiting at the minor road or a pedestrian pushes the button.
– Dezza
Mar 6 '16 at 12:48
10
10
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
"or the traffic lights of the intersection are not configured as originally inteded and the button wasn't removed" - some traffic lights are configured differently depending on the time of the day or the day of the week. As such, the button may well sometimes have an effect. Also, in general, I am not convinced there isn't a fourth case, where traffic lights are generally running on a schedule, but pressing the button decreases the waiting time until the next pedestrians' phase (useful at intersections that sometimes, but not permanently, see lots of pedestrians).
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 13:38
|
show 8 more comments
Also note that sometimes the main traffic lights directing vehicles operate on their own schedule, and are not effected by the button, but the button controls the operation of the pedestrian walk/don't walk light.
So for example, when there is a separate light for traffic turning left off the main road, across the pedestrian crosswalk, the walk/don't walk light will normally be red, but will turn green only if both the button has been pressed and the left-turn light is not active; ie. it is letting pedestrians to know whether it is safe to cross so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
add a comment |
Also note that sometimes the main traffic lights directing vehicles operate on their own schedule, and are not effected by the button, but the button controls the operation of the pedestrian walk/don't walk light.
So for example, when there is a separate light for traffic turning left off the main road, across the pedestrian crosswalk, the walk/don't walk light will normally be red, but will turn green only if both the button has been pressed and the left-turn light is not active; ie. it is letting pedestrians to know whether it is safe to cross so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
add a comment |
Also note that sometimes the main traffic lights directing vehicles operate on their own schedule, and are not effected by the button, but the button controls the operation of the pedestrian walk/don't walk light.
So for example, when there is a separate light for traffic turning left off the main road, across the pedestrian crosswalk, the walk/don't walk light will normally be red, but will turn green only if both the button has been pressed and the left-turn light is not active; ie. it is letting pedestrians to know whether it is safe to cross so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
Also note that sometimes the main traffic lights directing vehicles operate on their own schedule, and are not effected by the button, but the button controls the operation of the pedestrian walk/don't walk light.
So for example, when there is a separate light for traffic turning left off the main road, across the pedestrian crosswalk, the walk/don't walk light will normally be red, but will turn green only if both the button has been pressed and the left-turn light is not active; ie. it is letting pedestrians to know whether it is safe to cross so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
answered Mar 6 '16 at 22:05
jkfjkf
19813
19813
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
add a comment |
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
3
3
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
"so they don't have to figure out what is going on with the vehicle traffic lights in a complicated intersection" - or even on a simple one: Traffic lights in Germany are typically on the near side of the junction for each direction (i.e. not across the junction), so normally, one cannot see any traffic lights other than the ones for one's own direction.
– O. R. Mapper
Mar 6 '16 at 22:47
add a comment |
The ones in Heidelberg are required to get a green light as a pedestrian. If you don't press them, it never turns green, it is green for the cars all the time.
You said in comments that it turns green anyway, but somebody else must have pressed either the light on your side or on the opposite side.
For lights in other cities, other rules may apply, as discussed in other answers.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
add a comment |
The ones in Heidelberg are required to get a green light as a pedestrian. If you don't press them, it never turns green, it is green for the cars all the time.
You said in comments that it turns green anyway, but somebody else must have pressed either the light on your side or on the opposite side.
For lights in other cities, other rules may apply, as discussed in other answers.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
add a comment |
The ones in Heidelberg are required to get a green light as a pedestrian. If you don't press them, it never turns green, it is green for the cars all the time.
You said in comments that it turns green anyway, but somebody else must have pressed either the light on your side or on the opposite side.
For lights in other cities, other rules may apply, as discussed in other answers.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
The ones in Heidelberg are required to get a green light as a pedestrian. If you don't press them, it never turns green, it is green for the cars all the time.
You said in comments that it turns green anyway, but somebody else must have pressed either the light on your side or on the opposite side.
For lights in other cities, other rules may apply, as discussed in other answers.
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
answered Mar 6 '16 at 23:06
rumtschorumtscho
662315
662315
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
add a comment |
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
4
4
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
Might it also depend on the time of day/week and the location of the crossing? In the US, a lot of lights will just assume there's pedestrians during business hours but then go into needs-to-be-pushed mode at night, and it can be hit-or-miss throughout the city. Some crosswalks also only activate blind accessibility noises if the button is pushed.
– fluffy
Mar 7 '16 at 6:22
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
@fluffy in Heidelberg, it does not depend on business/nonbusiness hours, the buttons need to be pushed all the time. Also, the blind accessibility noise buttons in Heidelberg look differently, they have hand sensors (no mechanical push plate), the "blind" sign (circle with three dots inside) and do not activate a "please wait" light.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 8:36
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
Interesting. Do you have official references for this? And maybe even an explanation as to why this policy was chosen.
– JoErNanO♦
Mar 7 '16 at 16:03
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
@joernano I have neither references nor explanations. I have been living in Heidelberg for several years now, and I'm reporting what I experience every day. I must have used a button exactly like the depicted one 5-6 times today alone.
– rumtscho
Mar 7 '16 at 16:05
add a comment |
In my city in Spain, those buttons reduce 1/3 the time of waiting during day schedule, and, during the night, the pedestrian lights won't ever turn green unless they are pressed.
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
add a comment |
In my city in Spain, those buttons reduce 1/3 the time of waiting during day schedule, and, during the night, the pedestrian lights won't ever turn green unless they are pressed.
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
add a comment |
In my city in Spain, those buttons reduce 1/3 the time of waiting during day schedule, and, during the night, the pedestrian lights won't ever turn green unless they are pressed.
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
In my city in Spain, those buttons reduce 1/3 the time of waiting during day schedule, and, during the night, the pedestrian lights won't ever turn green unless they are pressed.
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
answered Mar 7 '16 at 10:03
CptEricCptEric
1,620517
1,620517
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
add a comment |
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
1
1
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
In Terrassa, when you press the button, you get a countdown from the time you need to wait until you get a green light. It's supposed to encourage pedestrians to not cross in red -- the reality is that when you see a 70 and no incoming traffic you break the law :p
– orique
Mar 7 '16 at 18:33
add a comment |
Depends on the traffic light system in use in the particular city or at the particular traffic light.
Some, particularly in less busy areas (usually crossing a single street) keep the vehicle lights green unless someone pushes the button. Some (intersections) skip the pedestrian light cycle and keep them red if no button is pressed.
Certain intersections, particularly busy ones, stick to their cycle and have no button or sometimes even buttons with no effect (other than a little LED), just to give you the idea of having done something :)
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
add a comment |
Depends on the traffic light system in use in the particular city or at the particular traffic light.
Some, particularly in less busy areas (usually crossing a single street) keep the vehicle lights green unless someone pushes the button. Some (intersections) skip the pedestrian light cycle and keep them red if no button is pressed.
Certain intersections, particularly busy ones, stick to their cycle and have no button or sometimes even buttons with no effect (other than a little LED), just to give you the idea of having done something :)
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
add a comment |
Depends on the traffic light system in use in the particular city or at the particular traffic light.
Some, particularly in less busy areas (usually crossing a single street) keep the vehicle lights green unless someone pushes the button. Some (intersections) skip the pedestrian light cycle and keep them red if no button is pressed.
Certain intersections, particularly busy ones, stick to their cycle and have no button or sometimes even buttons with no effect (other than a little LED), just to give you the idea of having done something :)
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
Depends on the traffic light system in use in the particular city or at the particular traffic light.
Some, particularly in less busy areas (usually crossing a single street) keep the vehicle lights green unless someone pushes the button. Some (intersections) skip the pedestrian light cycle and keep them red if no button is pressed.
Certain intersections, particularly busy ones, stick to their cycle and have no button or sometimes even buttons with no effect (other than a little LED), just to give you the idea of having done something :)
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
answered Mar 7 '16 at 16:01
7dude7dude
311
311
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by mindcorrosive Mar 8 '16 at 9:26
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13
And there were always other people around so that you could not try what happens if the button is not pressed? I would have thought that doing an experiment would be a natural thing for a physicist to do ;)
– Carsten S
Mar 6 '16 at 11:35
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
– JonathanReez♦
Mar 23 '17 at 19:55