Pushing Buttons in New York!

ONE OF MY ABIDING MEMORIES of New York city is of crossing the streets there. I was quite fascinated with what I saw when I first visited New York.

- PRAKASH IYER

There was of course the orderly discipline at the zebra crossing – with both pedestrians and motorists respecting each other’s right of way. If you were crossing the road and the signal was red, you waited. It didn’t matter whether there was a car or not. Everyone waited. You can imagine what a culture shock it must have been for someone who grew up perfecting the opportunistic art of crossing the streets in Mumbai.

But that wasn’t all. I was intrigued to see a panel with a push button, mounted on a pole at the crossing. I wasn’t sure how it worked. I then noticed wiser and more experienced locals pressing the button – to hasten the green light that would allow us to cross. The pedestrian– is indeed king here, I thought to myself. Press button. Let them know you are waiting. Watch them stop the cars. Cross.