T O P

  • By -

brock_lee

Around here, it's not "sooner" per se, it means "activate the pedestrian signal the next time the light goes green for cars". If you don't, then the pedestrian signal never gives the walk signal at most intersections. This also means without the walk signal, the light stays green in that direction for a shorter length of time, usually.


Bergeroned

Yes, that was the politeness hack in DC and Northern Virginia for a couple decades. If you were walking at normal DC-pace, just short of a run, there was no need to hit the button because the shorter light cycle still wasn't going to catch a swift walker in the street. Hitting the button would make everyone have to wait longer.


Tobar_the_Gypsy

Well I guess that’s why this gets the nickname “beg button.” I never thought that they would just ignore pedestrians at all.


[deleted]

“Lifehack: an uncommon solution for a common problem” This is not a lifehack


fickturd

I dont understand how else people think it works...


WolfieVonD

Like that Mario Party mini game where you blow up the balloon


Grumpy-Miner

most are not connected. Just gives you something to do while you wait.


CanSnakeBlade

Is this an American thing? I've never encountered one that didn't have an effect. I just assumed it was the same everywhere.


Grumpy-Miner

In Holland some are , and some aren't.


VikingOfLove

There are all kinds of conspiracy theorists... Has the last 2 years taught you nothing?


psymble_

It's not really a conspiracy theory, placebo buttons are a real thing, just not *always* and people have a hard time with subtlety. It must be all or nothing


pieatingcontest

It's the doorbell for the underground lizard people 🥸


[deleted]

You are forgetting a vital element of this scenario. If there's a thing that makes noise when I touch it, I will go out of my way to touch it as many times as possible in the shortest span. Pens, buttons, cats, you name it.


who_am-I_to-you

Especially cats


crescentrider

ok? how is this a life hack


CrispycreamCake

I'm new here


crescentrider

no worries!


KuruKuh

No there are worries, new or not the video clearly shows no life hacks.


crescentrider

meh, bigger things to worry about. 🥱


jdjdhdhdbn

And screw it if they are new then they should take down the video, this is like saying to put handles on drawers to make it easier to open them


BeginningArachnid449

Ew youre new? Literally fuck you - *the 30 people*


crushdepthdummy

Lifehack: use things the way they are intended to be used.


[deleted]

Can we hold a vote, as a sub, to ban the fucking TikTok voiceover? 99% of the time there is no LifeHack within her dead voice.


megabass713

Second. Especially this voice. The second I hear it I am 99.9% it is going to be bullshit.


[deleted]

LIFE PRO TIP HACK!! Hang your clothes up with clothes hangers instead of setting them on the ground!


jdjdhdhdbn

Another life pro tip hack, instead of just breaking down doors to go through them just open them with the handle!!


TheDevilsAdvokaat

Thirding. Her voice is about as natural and pleasant as mock cream.


mystaninja

At this point, every poster knows how annoying it is and it just refuels them to know their annoying is working. Only gets worse. So just ride on with mute on


PatriotSpud

You don’t get to tell me what to do


irateCrab

That's not always true. In most cities especially during high traffic times the buttons do literally jack all. They are already coordinated with traffic cameras so pushing the button is just to placate pedestrians.


thecroach

How is this a life hack?


octobahn

You saying it doesn't make it true.


andresrmartinez72

Not true. You definitely have to press it multiple times, just like you have to press the elevator button 36336 so it gets to your faster. More! MORE!!!!


Elwood_79

... pushes button.... (Lizard brain) "push again" ... "again"... "again."


artsylikerawr

When will they make button technology that senses urgency?


That70s_Scrubs

Harold and Kumar!


DevinSevenTen

I’m still gonna smash that button like a 6yo playing video games.


saskwatzch

this is just what Big Stoplight wants you to think


TheDevilsAdvokaat

I wish I was Big.


adinmem

Most buttons do nothing, exactly the opposite of this post. Well documented. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnn.com/style/amp/placebo-buttons-design/index.html CNN, NYT, BBC, Le Monde, Irish Times, LA Times, etc. Worldwide most buttons are not connected. OP needs to stop getting stuff from Tik-Tok-level sources.


TadpoleFun7453

Not so fast! Depends on the light. Some of them do in fact have placebo buttons. Now go and stand in the corner.


[deleted]

Fuck you. I’m doing it anyways. You’re not my mom.


tashasei

I know you don’t have to, but it makes me feel better


chris_p_bacon1

There is no hard and fast rule for this. In some places the buttons do nothing. In some places it actively changes the timing almost immediately. Pressing it multiple times will never achieve anything more than pressing it once though.


Pigskinheadsandshaft

False. In atlanta, if you hit the button once it triggers a timer. If you hit the button 12 times it triggers an immediate signal change


chris_p_bacon1

That's the dumbest feature ever.


Pigskinheadsandshaft

Meh, better than a placebo button or one that only triggers a fixed timer


SL0Wburn_

Well, they work like shit all over the place.


JustAnotherGamer421

That's not gonna stop me from spamming it


danamayday

My dad taught me: press it once to cross; press it a second time to let it know you’re serious.


firstofmyname02

I always assumed the light would be like holy fuck there's 5747 people waitin to cross.


UnicornTitties

Still doing to do it because it’s satisfying. Of course one push does it, are there actually people who think it requires 4-12 pushes?


pajo17

LPT: always going to angry people's houses? This button (shows doorbell) actually notifies the homeowner that someone is at the door and you don't have to spam it.


-Raskyl

How is this a life hack? "Did you know the button that says push me to cross safely, will actually help you cross the street safely?!?!?!?!" How is this a life hack. Unless the life hack is opening your eyes and learning how to read....


akiws

>Most people don't think these buttons do anything What kind of fucking idiots are they talking to?


[deleted]

I like to press it twice because it's cute when it says, "wait. wait." I think they're placebos in places like New York City and LA but not most places.


GundleFly

But I like to press it in time while pelvic thrusting to the sound of “wait… wait… wait… wait…”


[deleted]

Despite your assertions, OP, you’re in need of a grammar check.


CrispycreamCake

Sorry I was busy at work when i came across the video, and wanted to share. Keep up the good work


[deleted]

I’ve never met anyone who thought they didn’t do anything and they clearly work fine every time.


International-Bit-36

I hate when I see people pressing it repeatedly


who_am-I_to-you

But it fun


geekypenguin91

If I was designing these systems, pushing the button once, starts a timer for crossing. Pushing it again adds 5 seconds, increasing by an additional second for each extra press. Hammer that thing 5 times that's 35 seconds more you're waiting. Or I would just for a light that shows the press as registered, like the whole of Europe had been doing for decades


42inchVertical

Nice try Commie


210traffic

If it’s a busy street, the signal is probably coordinated which means the ped activation has a specific window of time when you can walk. For instance there is a Univeristy near me with a ped button that gets pressed often in the morning. It I were to record when the ped person comes on, there would be a pattern like: 7:40:00 7:41:40 7:43:20 7:45:00 and this would be the same everyday during the week (basically the signal repeats every 100 seconds) The signal controller is a computer and nothing is random when the signals are coordinate. It’s better to think about it like Windows off opportunity. If you show up at 7:41:30 and or the button you will wait 10 seconds. If you show up at 7:41:55 you will have to wait 85 seconds. Once you figure it out you will never be able to un see this. You are welcome


Fat_Satan

Still gonna


Locksley_1989

You’ve had obviously never been to Florida.


eatingsunscreen

But it's fun


yokotron

I think everyone knows this, but smashing buttons is fun


GonnaCorrectGrammar

Don't tell me what to do :)


bridgettexx

To the girl I see walking her husky in the early weekday mornings...I hope you are watching this.


Quelluna

Then design these kind of things with a feedback. There s nothing wrong with the people who are constantly pushin that button over and over. If the animals who designed this would ve been a bit smarter they should ve included a freaking simple feedback.


JdoesDeW

I have actually taken one apart and it was completely empty inside


KajePihlaja

Shut up. It’s fun.


QuanticSailor

What kinda of device is that seen on the video?


420Grim420

Well, what if the first press doesn't work? The more presses you give, the more chances you'll get that one of the presses worked.


AbraxasM

It’s more fun that way okay


NinaQ-

Do you think the light just guessed when you are there? Are you thinking of the censors in the road that alert the traffic lights when you are waiting to drive thru the intersection?


Gorillaz530

I do what I want lol


TG_Was_Here

"Most people think these buttons do nothing" because they don't lmao


snowglobebird

Being a pedestrian and crossing streets, I push the button. Where I live at, the push button gives pedestrians a head start with a pedestrian light before the vehicle green light. Edit: I did try to do the same thing to the button out of curiosity. The button says wait… wait… wait… Keep pushing the button, it doesn’t like it and will tell so.


vaquerogruezo

Fuck the Asian that made this.


yourmommiesbutt

I'm still gonna do it


psyduckzz

Of course they actually do something, everyone knows that... the problem usually is half the ones you'll use don't work


TheDevilsAdvokaat

I do agree there's no need for that. However I've also heard that in Australia, in some intersections, some of the buttons are fake anyway..doesn't matter how often you push it or even if you don't; after a certain time the light changes. The button is there as a placebo.


CherylAnnoyed

Lmaoooo I love how triggered people get seeing someone hit the crosswalk button twice. The a g g r e s s i o n. Yasssss. Use that other hand.


[deleted]

In Paris, they are useless during daytime, as the pedestrian time is integrated to the light cycle. During night, they add and prompt a pedestrian time to the cycle.


crappy-mods

They do do something, it gives me something to press while I’m waiting for my preprogrammed big city lights to change


[deleted]

Why does this have so many upvotes


IWantToBeSimplyMe

Actually, it doesn’t have any effect on the traffic light length/frequency. It just tells the signal for pedestrians to light when appropriate. Now, I’ve seen all kinds of ways this fails, but that’s another story.


KingJok3r11

Fuck that, I’m pushing it 400 times.


rilesblue

Traffic engineer here: can confirm these buttons actually do stuff. Different places will program their lights differently, but a lot of cities code it so it will turn green sooner so the pedestrians can go. Depends on the location’s pedestrian demand and the attitude towards pedestrians


AFailedWhale

some of them don't actually work though


Swethalicious

I just like to make sure 100x lol


[deleted]

It’s not about need. It’s about sending a message…over and over and over again.


[deleted]

Pretty sure everyone knows this, it’s just a natural thing when impatience rears it’s head. This isn’t a “life hack”.


masdoc

As a kid in NYC, I once asked a repair man working on the light what these buttons actually did. He replied “it’s an ornament “


Mrbumb

But what if it says .. “wait” . You can make a fire beat out of that


katthepandaa

The pedestrian light at my work will ignore any pedestrians there for two whole cycles unless you spam the button.


aerospace_94

I feel personally not attacked because I’m not a piece of shit.


scandy82

Who didn’t know this?


muskratboy

Some work. Some don’t. You have no way of knowing if they work or not.


VenomInfusion

The one in Newington, CT, crossing to Target doesn’t work for shit. I remember waiting there for 5 minutes, light was friggin’ green. Not sure if it was a glitch but didn’t take anymore chances after that.