Crosswalk placebos

(Printer friendly version)
Push button to cross

I'm reading Henry Petroski's Success through Failure: The Paradox of Design (and quite enjoying it).

While illustrating that "the connection between intention and result, between cause and effect, is not always what it seems" Petroski sheds light on a great mystery I've wondered about before: does pushing the crosswalk button actually accomplish anything?

Blaming an unfortunate occurence on bad design may make for a convincing damage claim—or even a succesful lawsuit—but the connection between intention and result, between cause and effect, is not always what it seems. Over three thousand intersections in New York City have signs instructing pedestrians, "To Cross Street / Push Button / Wait for Walk Signal." A good deal of time often elapses between pushing the button and getting the go-ahead, but conscientous citizens obediently wait. They presume, one presumes, that a delay is part of the system's design. It may be a "bad design," but the light does change—eventually.

New York intersections began to be fitted with these "semi-articulated signals" around 1964. They were the "brainstorm of the legendary traffic commissioner, Henry Barnes, the inventor of the 'Barnes Dance,' the traffic system that stops all vehicles in the intersection and allows pedestrians to cross in every direction at the same time." Walk buttons were installed mostly where a minor street intersected a major one, along which traffic would be stopped only if a pavement sensor detected a vehicle waiting to enter from the minor street or if someone pushed the button, causing the light to change ninety seconds hence. With increased traffic (by 1975, about 750,000 vehicles were entering Manhattan daily), the signals were being tripped frequently by minor-street traffic. The walk button hardly seemed necessary, and pushing them interfered with the coordination of newly installed computer-controlled traffic lights among many thoroughfares. Consequently, most of the devices were deactivated by the late 1980s, but the buttons themselves and the signs bearing the instructions for their use remained in place. Evidently there was never any official announcement about the status of the "mechanical placebos."

Which doesn't necessarily mean the buttons are placebos anywhere other than New York, but it does make one wonder...

—Michael A. Cleverly

Comments

John Cowan: [ mail | www | link ]

The "close doors" buttons in elevators often have a similar status. They are not an essential safety feature, and if they break (or are never hooked up in the first place), no one is much the wiser, especially given that they at best shorten the waiting period.

See http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_406.html .

Tue, 15 Aug 2006, 08:30

jacks23: [ mail | www | link ]

i read a lot of stuff and i found that the way of writing to clearifing that exactly want to say was very good so i am impressed and ilike to come again in future..

Fri, 29 Oct 2021, 10:21

jave: [ mail | www | link ]

http://blog.cleverly.com/permalinks/240.html#c2264412?r=0 https://blog.anypromo.com/36-fun-facts-books/?unapproved=278650&moderation-hash=5f09900182450b94e79e9002fd3510a3#comment-278650 https://mokhoaketdientunhanhtaihanoi.blogspot.com/2020/05/ket-sat-chong-chay-ks50d-tphcm.html?sc=1661959116131#c8914466962613363226 http://blog.cleverly.com/permalinks/240.html#c2264413?r=0 https://blog.anypromo.com/36-fun-facts-books/?unapproved=278655&moderation-hash=d440e3a6f1f2df4305c62a771b0ce675#comment-278655 https://mokhoaketdientunhanhtaihanoi.blogspot.com/2020/05/ket-sat-chong-chay-ks50d-tphcm.html?sc=1661959548789#c3587478420082673322 http://blog.cleverly.com/permalinks/240.html#c2264415?r=0 https://blog.anypromo.com/36-fun-facts-books/?unapproved=278661&moderation-hash=0004b9807605073dc73d626fe6bb1268#comment-278661 https://mokhoaketdientunhanhtaihanoi.blogspot.com/2020/05/ket-sat-chong-chay-ks50d-tphcm.html?sc=1661960235116#c3830976336320787995 https://homestaychaudocdep.blogspot.com/2020/07/top-10-homestay-ba-vi-gia-re.html?sc=1661960323314#c8796913097154969143

Fri, 23 Sep 2022, 01:17

bqseo: [ mail | www | link ]

https://prettycasino.net https://ufabet77thai.com https://lubetubex.com https://dragon99bet.xyz https://worldoffootball.xyz https://kubet88plus.net https://realslotsgam.com https://jokerslots123.com https://poker986.co https://nicoleisbetter.com https://viplotto.net https://joycasino-official.me https://uricasino114.com https://wooricasino114.com https://724betebet.com https://ivermecepills.com https://hjelpkranogcontainerservice.com https://buyedpl.com https://ordprednisone.com https://wwwmonclerjacketsuk.com.co https://dressya.online https://kyrie4.com.co https://firsttimeiwhtsb.com https://ivermectinsl.com https://ciprocheap.com https://levitra4people.top https://srcezasladju.com https://cialis5mg20mg.site https://herinsanbirkitap.com https://lvabz.com https://zyabq.com https://lzchewei.com https://tsadg.com https://gaming303.asia https://best-real-money-casinos.com https://kartelaaskilari.com https://tadalafilisale.com https://tadalafiledtablets.com https://cialispb.com https://poker0.online http://ufabet9k.com https://corridacasinoenlinea.com https://sambadlottery.net https://inssa-poker.com https://jokergamingslot.org https://azino777-casino.site https://paydayloansonlineyjxy.com https://viagraonlinex.com https://genericviagrabuying.com https://ufabet1688.xyz https://168beta.com https://suhagra50.com https://safe-plovdiv.com https://bitcoinbettingwebsite.xyz https://slotonline.icu https://133slot.xyz https://vavadacasino2.xyz https://ppoker.co https://idrpoker.net https://idrpoker.org https://tipobet.org https://situsslots2020.com https://situsslot.co https://rumahpoker.site

Sat, 22 Oct 2022, 21:40

vanilla gift card balance: [ mail | www | link ]
Verify the email you received for confirmation, or call you Vanilla eGift Virtual Account retailer ... Make sure to log in and verify the balance before you make a purchase. vanilla gift card balance macy's gift card balance walmart gift card balance macy's gift card balance macy's gift card balance vanilla gift card balance nordstrom gift card balance walmart gift card balance walmart gift card balance home depot gift card balance paypal login venmo login amazon.com/redeem dunkin donuts gift card balance amazon.com/redeem amazon.ca/redeem amazon.co.uk/redeem Sephora gift card balance target.com/check balance Nike gift card balance chilis gift card balance ulta gift card balance vanilla gift card balance

Mon, 23 Oct 2023, 06:05

Leave a comment

Name:  
Email: (optional)
URL: (optional)

Your comment: