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

[nicenewone1]

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?

Fucking diddums mate.

Maybe if more drivers were considerate enough to stop when they see someone waiting to cross, then no one would need to press a button in the first place.

I drive...I also cross if there is a gap in traffic to do so safely. Why would I wait for another gap when there is one already?

I think rather that you don't walk anywhere and so have no concept. Please tell me one good reason why, if someone presses the button at a pedestrian crossing when there is a stream of traffic, they should wait if a gap becomes apparent and they can cross? Some crossings take ages to change and it's not only drivers who are in a hurry to get to places.

Are you suggesting that all people who use crossings are not also drivers (and have no 'concept' - whatever the fuck that means)? You're an idiot. It makes no difference enviornmentally. It just makes a difference to you and your very important life.

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

But at (most?) crossings, once you've pressed the button it can't be un-pressed. So the cars are going to have to stop anyway. So how's it holding drivers up if the pedestrian then spots a gap in traffic and darts across before the lights change?

Why should I wait just to make you feel better? If there is a gap I'm walking.

Meh, I'm with treacle. If the button's been pressed you'll be stopping when the light's changed whether I'm still there or not. What actual PRACTICAL difference does it make to you? Saying that, I'm risk averse and like to follow the rules, so would likely look like an ass standing on the pavement with NO CARS GOING PAST waiting for the green man... but sometimes I live dangerously

If that means I'm "part of the non existent problem" I'm cool with that.

Gosh, few anger issues there. Do you have opinions on cyclists too OP?

I dislike those pedestrians that approach a busy pelican crossing and then press the button even though there are about 10 people already stood there. No we didn't think of pressing the button you d**k

Please get out more op. On foot.

Well I obviously wouldn't press the button if no cars about.

But if the road is busy I press the button, wait and then if an unexpected gap in the traffic before the green man of course I'm going to cross. I'm not going to wait when I could be getting on.

And I do drive, it wouldn't wind me up if I was the driver in this situation.

Ha, the cavalry arrived whilst I was typing :)

Get on your bike if you care that much about the environment 😊

But what's the actual problem here, other than your irritation? There are two alternatives:

1. The pedestrian presses the button and is forced to wait for the green man, irrespective of whether or not there is a gap in the traffic. You still have to stop, as do all other cars. The impact on the environment and on your journey is the same, but you get less irritated. I'm not convinced that this is worth the cost of passing new legislation.

1. Pedestrians don't bother pressing the button and just nip across whenever they spot a gap. This will obviously lead to more accidents but according to your theory will be better for the environment. You will also feel less irritated.

Regularly around my town there is a run of cars so people pressed the crossing button. Then traffic slows to no cars at all.

Baffled that you think I should stop at the crossing for another minute when there are no other cars, just so the one car that is stopped by the red light/green man, (you in this hypothetical situation) and myself are equally inconvenienced.

And you dress it up as saving the environment. Whilst driving a car...

Yes, Lozzy! And their flip side - people who stand right next to the button and don't press it, so you wait for ages with unchanging lights until someone clocks on and does it for them.

If there's traffic coming, the lights by me won't change until there's either no cars or I've waited 90 seconds. If I see a gap I can cross in, I take it. I've pressed the button but I don't see why I have to wait so long, especially when it's raining in rush hour and I'm getting soaked.

OP, you really need a philosophy course or something. You don't seem to have a grasp of basic logic.

If we assume that the pedestrian pressed the button on good faith, thinking they needed to, then a gap happens... If they wait past the gap it hurts them (they have to wait) and hurts you (you have to wait). If they take the gap, it doesn't hurt them (they don't wait), it still hurts you (you still have to wait). So to minimise the 'hurt' they walk. It makes NO DIFFERENCE to you if they walk or not, the light still changes.

Unless you want them to suffer to let you have the perception that you helped, even though it's a lie.

Seriously? You're driving around in a polluting car blaming pedestrians on their eco-friendly legs for your car polluting the environment? YADBU

It makes no difference if the person has crossed or not. They needed to cross. They pressed the button which will cause cars to stop. If they saw an opportunity to cross earlier then the cars would be delayed in exactly the same as if they waited for the green man.

And at the idea that pedestrians are the ones responsible for traffic pollution.

Sometimes it takes so long for lights to change that it seems they aren't working or gaps that can't be predicted will appear.

Grow up OP!

I drive and I walk. And press buttons and cross when there's a gap in traffic.