tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2014451593167123858.post8676031195480769245..comments2024-02-27T12:08:54.327-05:00Comments on Images of Centretown: Peds on Weds: No ifs, ands or buttonsCentretownerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798054152996264061noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2014451593167123858.post-70908247361644352642012-05-10T08:22:13.416-04:002012-05-10T08:22:13.416-04:00This is really interesting - since I cross at Perc...This is really interesting - since I cross at Percy and Gladstone every day I always wondered why in the world the pedestrian signal didn't just come on automatically. As frustrating as the signals in Ottawa are, the signal at Laurier and Maisonneuve in Hull (where the Portage Bridge lets out on the Quebec side) drives me insane. Crossing Laurier northbound, the pedestrian signal only stays on for 25 seconds, but the light stays green for about 2 minutes. So you never know if you have time to cross or not and can stand there for what seems like an eternity, when you actually had plenty of time to cross. And the signals in every direction are set up differently so there is no consistency even at the one intersection! I've taken to completely ignoring the signals and just relying on traffic, which is probably not the outcome that the traffic people envisionned! <br />Thanks for an interesting post.Joseehttp://www.frugalfunottawa.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2014451593167123858.post-79871635712027613482012-05-10T07:15:33.541-04:002012-05-10T07:15:33.541-04:00I, too, am grateful for the information. I have w...I, too, am grateful for the information. I have wondered at the (working?) of the signal buttons for quite some time. I think it is a little ridiculous that a walk signal isn't just automatically given when it is safe to cross, regardless of whether a button has been pushed or not. Since I still hold to the fact that a pedestrian always has the right of way, if I miss getting a walk signal, I go with the green light for the traffic to get my cue to walk...even if it isn't the most correct thing to do.(I simply don't have the patience to wait for an entire light rotation to cycle through)Delaney Hindsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2014451593167123858.post-10740161905631580952012-05-10T05:20:38.562-04:002012-05-10T05:20:38.562-04:00Thanks so much for demystifying this crazy situati...Thanks so much for demystifying this crazy situation, Charles. <br />Instead of standing in helpless rage, at least I know how to deal with some of corners now. Looking for the rubber markings on the pavement, too, is a great clue for when I am on my bike. <br /><br />Like the previous commentator, this issue presses my buttons ! <br /><br />Best of all, were your sentiments that this article should not be necessary. For the moment, I will dream of an Ottawa where a button pushed results in an immediate " Walk" signal!!Pat Deaconhttp://www.patdeacon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2014451593167123858.post-92069805027163001372012-05-09T13:35:01.601-04:002012-05-09T13:35:01.601-04:00This. is. madness. I'm speechless at how some...This. is. madness. I'm speechless at how something so simple has been turned into such a mess. My annoyance at this has been bubbling for some time, so bear with me:<br /><br />One should NEVER have to press a button to get walk signal, ever. I'm sure there is some bureaucratic justification for this, but whatever it is, it's wrong. You mention it in your post, but the fact that the "pedestrian button event" light is slightly longer than the "no pedestrian button event" indicates autistic-level obsessive need to optimize vehicular traffic motion on the roads to the exclusion of all else (including sanity). <br /><br />Buttons should only be present when they exert some control over the light, i.e. change it on command or subject to some timing. Hey city planners: with these buttons you can get as complicated as you want with all sorts of cycles and this and that... <br /><br />But, the default should be: no button, walk signal when good to walk, don't walk signal when the light is turned (good grief, I can't believe I'm typing this out...)<br /><br />Sorry for the rant, but this issue really pushes my buttons.<br /><br />That sign on the fourth picture summarizes the ridiculousness of this better than I ever could. Good Lord, the clutter that accumulates on the streets...evenstevennoreply@blogger.com