For expecting people standing at pelican crossings to have pressed the button?

[hopsalong]

This keeps happening to me. Arrive at a pelican/ puffin crossing where two or three people (or more) are already waiting on my side. Stand behind them assuming (as surely always used to be the case!) that they have pressed the button and the lights are about to change. Look at my phone.

Time passes.

The lights never change. They seem unconcerned by this. They look at their phones.

Sometimes I say loudly 'oh dear me, did no one think to press the button' in a middle-aged way.
Usually I edge over and press it.

Is not touching the button a post-Covid thing?
And what happens to these people if a button jabber doesn't show up?!

[LondonJax]

And...a did you know. There's a cone or wheel type thing at the bottom of the unit that has the button. When the green man comes on, it twirls. It's to help those with diminished sight or who are blind to know when it's safe to cross. DS showed me that.

[GoldenOmber]

There’s some on my way to work that cycle with the traffic at junctions, so they’ll turn green whether you press the button or not. I’ve had people do the huffy “it works BETTER if you PRESS it” thing at those - but it really doesn’t!

[sandytooth]

@LondonJax

And...a did you know. There's a cone or wheel type thing at the bottom of the unit that has the button. When the green man comes on, it twirls. It's to help those with diminished sight or who are blind to know when it's safe to cross. DS showed me that.

I did know this. Some people are disgusting and put chewing gum on it.

[Pixiedust1234]

@poppypetal

Some have a sensor so if you press the button but then stand back, the sensor can't detect you so it cancels the process because it 'thinks' there's no one there. I learnt this the hard way and probably people thought I hadn't pressed the button and was just standing there like a numpty when I actually had, but made the mistake of moving out of the the sensors reach! And yes, it took me a long while to figure this out 😳

Wait...WHAT?????

I always step back as it means I'm not near the fast moving traffic especially if its been raining. Every crossing always has a puddle thats just perfect for splashing pedestrians

[catsonahottinroof]

This has happened to me too many times in the past so now I always look and press the button if not lit up as soon as I get there. I think in the past, I used to assume that no-one would be waiting that long without pressing the button and it would be rude to press it anyway, as if implying they are stupid.

[AnApparitionQuipped]

My husband complains of feeling guilty if we push the button but don't need to wait. There's a crossing nearby that's a button one, with a junction cycle one a little down the (one way) road. They don't seem to be synched, so it often happens that you press the button and while still waiting, the traffic stops at the junction so you've ample time to cross. Then you see the traffic stopped pointlessly at the empty button crossing when you're already on the pavement.

[JustLyra]

Quite a few in the town here had some sort of sensor fitted during covid so you didn’t have to press it.

it’s now a lottery which ones have signs saying they have a sensor and actually have a working sensor.

[silverclock222]

I think people may be confused about the new rules for pedestrians and motorists.

[AnApparitionQuipped]

@silverclock222

I think people may be confused about the new rules for pedestrians and motorists.

In what way?

[ChocHotolate]

@janj2301

I lean over, press the button and announce loudly "it works better when you press the button" I am a bit of a Karen. I also wait until the green man flashes even if there is no traffic, if there are children waiting to cross. My youngest used to shout at people who crossed on the red man, wonder where she got that from?

Quite often the "wait" signs here don't illuminate when the button is pressed (guess the bulb has blown). I'd love to see you huff because it wasn't illuminated, only for it not to illuminate after you press it so superiorly. I might even laugh

[Catastrophejane]

@hopsalong I’m with you on this!

drives me to bloody distraction. I sometimes think that in London it might be tourists, but happens even in residential areas.

its the way everyone just stands there like muppets…it happened pre covid, so assume it just that everyone else is lazy and l assumes someone else will do it

[onlyjustme]

YEEEEEES!!!
There's a crossing which helps me with a right turn into work - the crossing is just beyond my turning and if people cross then it holds up the oncoming traffic and I can turn. (Although a LOT of cars do actually come through on red...)
Sometimes I can see a load of people waiting... and waiting... and I too am waiting because of all the cars... and we are ALL waiting because NO ONE HAS PRESSED THE BUTTON.

Similar thing happens with lifts... People just stand and wait. Look at the light above the lift door! You can SEE that it's on G for GROUND but the door won't open unless you PRESS THE BUTTON.
And then - now this might be too complicated for the average person - when you get in the lift, you need to PRESS THE BUTTON FOR THE FLOOR YOU WANT.
So many times I step out at 5 (because I pressed 5) and someone else steps out and says "But this isn't 2" or similar.

[hopsalong]

@NightmareSlashDelightful yes, absolutely with you on the walk of flesh. Where I live in central London it's crowded enough on the streets and a modest and unnoticed flick of the button is rarely possible. So you sort of have to explain.

I also agree that young people are the worst. It's not always that they're on their phones. Sometimes they're talking to each other. Actually I think that a lot of them simply don't know how a regular pelican / puffin crossing works.

The other possibility I suppose is that these anti-button-pushers are really rabid motorists. Given the number of new cycle lanes and roadworks in my area the traffic is slower than ever, month by month. I suppose the people who don't press the button marginally improve the throughflow...

Personally I would rather get across the road.

The people on the bus who ring multiple times after someone else has already pressed the button are also annoying but it seems more explicable to me, stemming from
simple human impatience.

[Bluevelvetsofa]

I assume if the red light is on, that the button has been pressed.

[Iluvperegrines]

Ive noticed this and even join in sometimes 😂

Though in my small city you can often get large gaps in the cars so it seems a bit mean to press the buttons and make the cars stop even though everyone crossed at the last gap in traffic.

[TooBored1]

There are barely any demand lights any more in our city. Virtually all of them are just on a pre-set sequence, so pressing the button doesn't make any difference.