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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you press the button on the crossing it should be fucking illegal to cross before you get the green man?

380 replies

nicenewone1 · 14/08/2017 16:01

If you are stopping the traffic, do not cross when there is a gap in the traffic, you pressed the fucking button so you wait for the green man!

All the stopping and starting adds to the pollution and it really fucks me off when I stop and they have already crossed and are on their merry way!

It can't be just me can it that thinks people who do this are inconsiderate, selfish and rude with no thought for the environment?

OP posts:
TeacupDrama · 14/08/2017 22:18

where jay walking is illegal it does not do anything for the environment it is a safety thing because cars stop every time the button is pressed as you can't cross in a gap even if you see one you have to press button and wait, so if on average traffic is stopped every 3 mins as someone presses button as they can't cross without it the traffic stops 20 times an hour, if jay walking is not illegal 4 of these 20 people may just see a gap and cross so button only pressed 16 times an hour traffic stops 16 times an hour now maybe on one or two occasions there is no person there but traffic has still only stopped 16 times as opposed to 20 times an hour, in hour high street the sequence is north - south go, the east west go then all stop for pedestrians on a time switch whether anyone crosses or not so you might wait 90 seconds at 3am for no-body that is lights for you, you might have to wait for east traffic light even if not a single car going that way it's just what happens!!!!

coconuttella · 14/08/2017 22:26

In Germany they wait because they have a stronger sense of following road rules, not at all because of pollution!

That the Germans do this is rather concerning.... Abiding by the law is one thing, doing so slavishly when contrary to common sense is not. If their rules told them to hop three times and turn around when they saw a yellow car in their eyes would they, just because it's the rules? Both waiting on an empty road at 2am and doing a silly dance like this are equally nonsensical.

Coconutspongexo · 14/08/2017 22:28

I drive.

I also press the button when there's no traffic purely to show my son the difference between the red man and green man. I couldn't really give a fuck if it pisses anyone off.

I don't press it and then cross unless the man is on green but if there's no cars I will still press it just incase.

Imamouseduh · 14/08/2017 22:47

The traffic has to stop anyway, so YABU.

WishfulThanking · 14/08/2017 22:49

OP, you are a dick.

And I am someone who has recently been thinking that a jaywalking rule for people who don't cross at crossings would be good.

MabelFurball · 14/08/2017 22:51

Why can't the traffic be stopped as soon as the button is pressed, then we wouldn't need to be waiting full stop.

Ceto · 14/08/2017 22:52

Just wait for the green man, you're adding to pollution if I stop unnecessarily. I do not mind stopping at all, I really don't. For people. I do mind stopping for no reason, because you can't be bothered to wait.

But what difference does it make to you? I push the button, I wait staring at an empty road, eventually the lights go red, you stop and I cross. Or I push the button, find there is no traffic and I cross; eventually the lights go red, you stop and no-one crosses. You are going to have to stop either way. How does it make it better if I have wasted my time standing around for no reason whatsoever?

I can't believe you think it's ok to then ignore it and go across when you feel like it. Are you not embarrassed that you have stopped all the traffic for nothing. I watch people like you walking away, oblivious as to what you have done

No, I'm not in the least embarrassed. It's not my fault that the button didn't stop the traffic immediately, nor is it my fault that it doesn't give me the option of cancelling it. Plus I haven't necessarily stopped the traffic for nothing - it helps to even out traffic flow, and also helps cars trying to get out of junctions further down the road. There is a junction I have to drive out of regularly where it would be impossible if pedestrians didn't regularly stop the traffic 30 yards up the road.

ForagingForFaerieGold · 14/08/2017 23:10

Give it up guys. OP has now had this explained to HIM six ways to Sunday and 100 times. He's NEVER going to get it. Could be stubborn, could be thick as mince.

IME only a man refuses to admit he's mistaken in the face of this much opposition. I've had a few conversations of this type. You'll never get through that thick skull crash hat
OP is now totally confused by the refusal of us mere wimmin to bow to his superior intellect. Wink

my2bundles · 14/08/2017 23:12

Last week. Sudden downpour looming. Me and my 9 year old crossed in a gap after pressing the button. Result we got home just after the rain started resulting in us not getting soaked, al because we didn't wait for the green man to appease Mrs selfish sat in her dry car.

ForagingForFaerieGold · 14/08/2017 23:13

On the + side. I'm enjoying this thread very much. Grin

Ceto · 14/08/2017 23:16

Your beef seems to be that people press the button when, according to you, they have no intention of waiting for the green man, therefore, according to you, they should not press the button at all.

But what actually happens is that people approach a busy crossing and press the button with every intention of waiting until either the green man stops for them, or there is a gap in the traffic and they can cross anyway - whichever is quicker. Do you accept that, at the time they press the button, they are entitled to do so? Do you also accept that it then makes zero difference to your waiting time as a driver whether they cross or not?

Kleinzeit · 14/08/2017 23:17

I can't believe you think it's ok to then ignore it and go across when you feel like it. Are you not embarrassed that you have stopped all the traffic for nothing. I watch people like you walking away, oblivious as to what you have done

The horror of it.

EyeHalveASpellingChequer · 14/08/2017 23:21

If you're not going to wait for the green man, then why bother pressing the button?!

Ceto · 14/08/2017 23:22

EyeHalve, because at the point when we press we don't know whether there is going to be a gap in the traffic before the green man comes on. Yet again, very few pedestrians are psychic.

user1487372252 · 14/08/2017 23:29

Puffin crossings are designed to prevent this.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/08/2017 00:07

DH is an engineer with an IQ in the high 150s. He is currently under the impression that MN is full of intelligent women who more often than not know a lot more than him and his internet ilk. I'm not explaining this thread to him because even describing it makes us all sound thick.

Oh and he's a shit driver compared to me.

OhSoggyBiscuit · 15/08/2017 00:57

One of my pet peeves is drivers who don't stop for pedestrians waiting at crossings. Especially when I see my bus coming up round the corner...

Original poster
nicenewone1 · 15/08/2017 06:03

If you're not going to wait for the green man, then why bother pressing the button?!

At least there is someone here who gets it!

OP posts:
pongoismyhero · 15/08/2017 07:01

OP picks out the one post agreeing with her Grin

Original poster
nicenewone1 · 15/08/2017 07:39

There's two actually. Grin

OP posts:
Lauralou69 · 15/08/2017 07:42

Hardly conclusive then is it OP. Anyway can't chat, got numerous buttons to press for no reason whatsoever.......and it's rush hour!!!!!

BigChocFrenzy · 15/08/2017 07:46

I live in Germany and it certainly used to be the case that pedestrians would always wait for the green man.

Sadly, standards have slipped since my earlier jobs and I often see someone crossing on red, if there is no traffic.
and .... I'm one of these anarchist crossers Blush

So, I blame the recent influx of Brits Grin

LaurieMarlow · 15/08/2017 07:51

Haven't rtft, but to call out pedestrians for having no concern about the environment while you sit in your cosy car is one of the most breathtakingly stupid things I've ever read on here and that's saying something

OddBoots · 15/08/2017 08:00

If that button is pressed and you come along at the time the lights change you have to stop, it makes no difference to you stopping if the person who pressed the button crossed at an earlier gap or stood there while gaps in the traffic passed them by, you still stop.

Unless you get a particular thrill out of watching a person cross the road it makes no difference to you at all.

Maybe what you are asking for is a 'cancel' button that someone crossing can press if they get across before the green man starts but that could be used for all sorts of trolling, not that anyone on this thread would know anything about that.

Slarti · 15/08/2017 08:01

Whether the person is still at the crossing or not you have to stop either way.

Can't believe it got to page 2 before anyone said this! If they wait, you stop; if they've already crossed, you stop. Them having waited makes no difference whatsoever to you.