What exactly does the Walk/Don't Walk button really do at a crosswalk intersection?

Harry

It destroy's all life as we know it. NEVER press it.

Barkley Hound

It activates the walk cycle. It does not speed up the timing. If activated it will just insert a walk cycle before cars are allowed to turn left. If you don't press it the walk light will remain off.

Patchouli

This drives me absolutely crazy! People don't understand what the button is for, and I see them BEATING and HAMMERING the damn thing!
The button is to make the lighted crosswalk sign work. It doesn't change the pattern of the stop light!! It just means that when the stop light goes through its pattern, that it will trip the crosswalk signal light with it. Otherwise, the crosswalk sign goes into a kind of sleep mode, like some computers do, to save energy.

Mr. CoCo

It gives you something to do while your waiting!

bigguu254

u kno... i've pressed the button many times in my life... but i dont think it really does anything for anyone... although in some areas it does cause the red light to come faster... other than that... i dont really know

The Mr. Pine

They change the light for you. If there is no cross traffic it takes forever.

Mr. Taco

When it works, they shorten the light and allow you to cross. That said, they are notorious for not working right.

Paul

It makes the "walk" sign stay on long enough to cross, and one push is enough.

In many areas, the walk sign will not even light up if no one pushes the button.

bostonianinmo

Some work, some don't. In NYC, about 90% of them have been disconnected since the signals are computer controlled.

miss_blue_47

I don't think it does anything most of the time. The lights are on a timer anyway. Perhaps outside of the rush hour the lights are green for longer and you would need to press the button then but at busy junctions I don't think it makes any difference at all.

Either way, you only have to press it once and the length of time the walk sign stays on should be sufficient for you to cross without rushing.

ennoed78

its for the deaf and blind. the bebebebe that goes when the walk sign is on is so the blind know its ok to cross the actual signage for the deaf.the button makes the lights aware someone is waiting no it doenst legnthen or shorten the time they are configured to particular areas if in shopping district will go longer to allow all to cross.It makes no difference how many times u press the button.........

scoota

of course it's supposed to tell you when to walk or not, but it always seems to tell you at the wrong thing at the wrong time

bundysmom

It does nothing....pedestrians pay no attention to them, motorists pay no attention to them (ask the tourists who have been hit in Las Vegas). It doesn't shorten the length of the light, it doesn't lengthen the time of walk, and it doesn't matter how many times you press it.

Molly

They are designed to get us killed.
They turn the lights to red so you can cross only half way across the street, then they turn green again, allowing you to get run over.

It happens every time.

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