Raise the Hammer
The pedestrian 'beg buttons' have been removed from the intersection of James Street South and Young Street.
By Kevin Love
Published July 20, 2017
Good news! The pedestrian "beg buttons" have been removed at the intersection of James Street South and Young street. Before:
South side of Young Street at James showing beg buttons (Image Credit: Google Street View)
And after:
Southeast corner of Young and James - No more beg button!
A beg button is a button that pedestrians must press in order to get a walk signal at a crosswalk. For pedestrian-activated signalized crosswalks, beg buttons make sense. But for fully signalized intersections that cycle through alternating red and green traffic signals, it makes no sense for a pedestrian to have to press a button to be allowed to cross with the green traffic signal.
Many people have written about how demeaning and discriminatory beg buttons are. Others have written about how dangerous they make intersections.
Other people have written about how beg buttons reduce the quality of life for their victims. And others about how they stymie visually impaired persons.
Many cities have implemented policies to remove beg buttons. One example is Edmonton. Let us sincerely hope that removing the beg buttons at James and Young is a harbinger that Hamilton is following this good example.
With files from Ryan McGreal.
By Dylan (registered) | Posted July 19, 2017 at 22:00:18
Stern language for a "beg button". Haha
They are silly though and unnecessary. The walk signal should be default. And if no one is there, cars need not yield.
By kevlahan (registered) | Posted July 20, 2017 at 08:21:56
There was/is also one to cross Dundurn at Herkimer.
Very inconvenient and inconsiderate, especially when walking children home from school. If you don't get to the intersection in time to push the button before a car activates the signal you have to wait an entire light cycle to cross. It is also confusing for children who see a green light, but a "don't walk" pedestrian signal. Of course, the activation is automatic for cars! I hope they remove this one as well.
By Brandon (registered) | Posted July 24, 2017 at 13:19:47 in reply to Comment 121745
That one is slightly different since the intersection is controlled by either the button or by a vehicle needing to turn, it's not on a regular rotation.
It would be nice if the pedestrian crossing came on as a rule though instead of just with a button push.
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