I think they are meant for people to believe they do something so they’ll feel better and wait. I used to walk a lot and encounter lots of crosswalk with buttons and I got used to how fast I should go in order to catch green every time and I could predict when the next crosswalk was going to turn green. If they truly worked then they should have been out of sync. I never pushed the buttons and I saw the light turning green even though no one pushed the button, if the buttons worked then why would the light turn green?

I also asked gemini about this and he said I’m not going insane, strange because I never mentioned if I was insane or not, but good to know I’m not.

Maybe some buttons work and other don’t depending on where it is?

  • Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de
    4·
    2 days ago

    What really annoys me is when there’s an induction loop for cars

    Those only annoy me when on a bike, as they often are not sensitive enough to realize you are there.
    This led to many annoying and one somewhat funny situation:

    I was first in line at a at a the time busy turn lane with hidden induction loop, and inadvertently bringing the traffic in the district to a grinding halt as the cars behind me started rapidly pilling up, even blocking the previous intersection.

    After 5 or 6 minutes fruitless waiting things started working again when I finally decided to convert to bicycle-pushing pedestrian mode to cross the intersection on foot instead, and the car behind me moving up then activated the induction loop that I didn’t knew about until then…

    • zaphod@sopuli.xyz
      3·
      2 days ago

      Never had a problem with them on a bicycle, the induction loops are usually visible, just make sure to properly cross them. Maybe the material of the bicycle makes a difference, mine is steel.

      • Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de
        3·
        2 days ago

        The bike with which I had problems at my workplace had an aluminium frame.
        The one at the blockaded turning lane already was my new steel bike, though.

        But I guess the amount of ferromagnetic metal does make a difference nonetheless.

        Here in Germany the induction loops are paved over with regular asphalt, so without a sign reminding them of their presence, you won’t notice them.

    • doc@fedia.io
      2·
      2 days ago

      I’ve had success laying my bike on it’s side so the sensor can pick it up.

      • Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de
        3·
        2 days ago

        For this to consider, you have to know there is a induction loop present in the first place.
        While many have a sign beside them, others don’t (e.g. the one of my tale).
        Had another unmarked one activating the moving entrance barrier at my former workplace.
        First time standing there I got really irritated, as I didn’t find a way to open the barrier for me, until realizing the thing with the induction loop. After that, laying my bike down for a second became my every-morning-ritual before work ;-)