R.I.P. Every Single NYC Crosswalk Signal?

Photo via dfhdez's flickr

It's not infrequent to find a crosswalk signal blinking mixed messages, but last week the Daily News found malfunctioning devices all over the place, from Morningside Heights to Times Square to the East Village. This comes a year after Councilwoman Gale Brewer pointed out the hazard... and how long before the apocalypse?

Now the paper reports that the signals are all in working order again; Scott Gastel, a city Department of Transportation spokesman, told them, "Once we become aware of them, we go out and fix them." He advises pedestrians to call 311 if they notice a busted signal—the devices apparently only have 7 year life cycles, and—jaywalkers beware—most were installed in 2003! (Apparently newer models on their way.)

No word on if the new models will help the visually impaired, however—in Canada some cities have installed bird chirping sounds as an extra alert.

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By Jen Carlson in News on December 23, 2010 5:34 PM

Comments [rss]

AhHoon

Ah Hoon always confused. In China, red hand next to walking white man mean, "Beware of white devil!"

valeriob

Wait, I've never seen any of these, are they in and around the city?
Prrrretty sure I wouldn't miss em :)

dschwarz

I don't get it. Modern crosswalk signals should be 100% solid state electronics so there are no moving parts to wear out. The only thing that would cause trouble would be the temperature extremes. Even then, it's not clear that they should all fail with the same symptom - red hand and walking man signals on simultaneously. I'm guessing there was a design flaw in the units that the DOT bought when these were first being installed.

aspiringrapper

They're completely useless anyway. Go up to Fordham Road & Webster Avenue in the Bronx & see how much attention people pay to them. If I were behind the wheel of a car, I'd love...LOVE to mow down the ignorant ghetto dwelling imbeciles who get in my way when I have the right of way - almost daring you to hit them. Justice would be well served.

aspiringrapper

They're completely useless anyway. Go up to Fordham Road & Webster Avenue in the Bronx & see how much attention people pay to them. If I were behind the wheel of a car, I'd love...LOVE to mow down the ignorant ghetto dwelling imbeciles who get in my way when I have the right of way - almost daring you to hit them. Justice would be well served.

langleycollyer

Your cogent and thoughtful rumination has won me over to your way of thinking. Thank you, intelligent sir.

AhHoon

Don't think you'll go far in the rapping biz with that attitude toward "ignorant ghetto dwelling imbeciles." They're your target audience.

eemmbb

In Canada? They have those bird signals in Portland, San Diego, and other US cities I'm sure.

rcltrh

We have crosswalk signals? Who knew! I always look at the traffic direction one-way sign arrow, look the opposite way, then cross if nothing is heading at me within 25.

diablofreak

who cares, it's not like New Yorkers look at the pedestrians crosswalk signals anyway.

they always try to beat the oncoming vehicular traffic and cross with their 2 year old babies or strollers... this is especially true in chinatown

as long as the vehicle traffic signals don't do this, it's fine.

AhHoon

Ah Hoon say, "Stop picking on Chinese. Rickshaw always have right of way!"

devonbanks

I started seeing these "mixed signals" at least two years ago. So, more like a 5-year life cycle.

Also I have a suspicion that they start malfunctioning in colder weather. In my neighborhood there are three or four of these that were messed up last winter, then fine all through the summer, and now have started to malfunction again.

Steven H.

you can always look at the red-yellow-green signal for cars, just look up

FILTHBAG

Sometimes that works but sometimes there are different turn signals, etc.

nicemarmot

Yeah, half the ones around my apartment do the "walk or don't walk, I don't know" thing. I've seen city workers messing with them, but they're always broken again a few weeks later.