Talking Crosswalks Helps with Safe Ventures into Downtown Waukesha

This past Friday evening, a friend of mine and I were accompanying about 20 Vietnamese students staying at Carroll University downtown Waukesha as we all attended Freeman Friday Night Live.  Many times, when I walk around downtown, the talking stoplights become a conversational centerpiece.

You may have come across them if you’ve ever crossed the street at a lighted intersection in the city.  The little man inside the stoplight, and I wonder how much he gets paid to say it each time, says “walk sign is on to cross (insert name of intersection.)

These talking stop lights, as I call them, are actually helpful. Not only do they tell me which street I am crossing, but the little man throws his voice to the other side of the street to help me know that I have made a straight street crossing. Otherwise, I might veer into traffic.

I found out a few years ago, through talking to someone at City Hall, that school children also make use of the talking stop lights to help make safe street crossings. Before the city purchased these new talking stoplights, a chirping bird would be the noise I would hear that would tell me it is safe to cross. I am not sure how the decision was made to replace little bird sound with big man voice. I thought the chirping sound served me pretty well.

In a class called orientation and mobility in high school, I was taught how to cross busy lighted intersections with no chirping bird or man voice. I was taught to listen to the surge of cars on my parallel street. When I heard all the cars go at once, I knew it was safe to cross.

I must remind you, dear readers, that there is a law called the “white cane law” that states that if you see someone crossing the street using the red and white cane, that person has the right of way. If that person is driving a car, be very worried!  I will see you in traffic.