There are plenty of intersections where a walk signal comes on automatically, why do some intersections require a button push to initiate the walk signal when it doesn’t seem to make a difference in light timing or duration?
In: Engineering
Part of traffic/road design to optimize flow. If you’re in downtown, you probably want the light to switch at fairly set intervals because there’ll always be traffic. In that case the crosswalk button probably does little if anything at all. Maybe it’ll speed up the change by a few seconds.
In a random crosswalk with less foot traffic or wide lanes, they probably actually make a difference . Think of those 8 lane main roads in the suburbs. There’s probably less foot traffic and when there is it takes people longer than the usual time to cross. The 99% of the time when no one is pressing the button, the time is set to optimize traffic flow. If the button is pressed it’ll optimize pedestrian safety and give extra time. I’ve actually seen this. Green light for one direction, the pedestrian sign will go green but with only 10 secs on the countdown. Press the button for the other direction and it’s 30 seconds.
Base on time of day or the road some lights just don’t change at all unless a sensor is set off by a car or the pedestrian button is pressed. If you drive around late enough you’ll notice some lights at empty intersections will be static until you or someone else pulls up close enough.
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