Actually, it seems to be saying that you should push people into traffic. That interpretation might not hold up in court though.

Posted by: Maurs at March 26, 2005 12:27 AM

It broken, but not in the design flaw type of broken. So it shouldn't be here!

Posted by: thisisbrokenisbroken@soofunny.com at March 26, 2005 02:30 AM

Walk. Stop walking. Repeat.

Posted by: fuzzy at March 26, 2005 08:24 AM

It looks to me like the unit is defective. This isn't a design flaw, every once in awhile you get damaged goods. Even the best quality control can't stop it.

Posted by: Patrick at March 26, 2005 11:03 AM

Its not that the sign is broken; its probably just the lighting that makes both of the symbols seem visible to the camera.

Posted by: Jonathan at March 26, 2005 01:55 PM

If only the camera saw it why would he have even taken a picture of it then. I live in RI and not once have i ever seen that sign or a walk sign with a 2 Digit screen below it.

Posted by: unknown at March 26, 2005 03:47 PM

Also those LEDs probably cost less than $.10 a piece.

Posted by: unknown at March 26, 2005 04:00 PM

Yeah, it means push people into traffic or kill your self. The ones in my city have a flaw just like that, except it gives you about only 2 or 3 seconds to cross.

Posted by: Cameron at March 26, 2005 05:51 PM

It can't be just the lighting. The top is dark, yet the LEDs still show up bright.

Posted by: Bob at March 26, 2005 11:36 PM

I think it is a "it is now safe to moonwalk" signs.

Posted by: Administrator00192 at March 27, 2005 12:35 PM

Broken, but not by design I'm sure. And for those who are saying "I've never seen a crosswalk sign like this", there are tons of them here. The new design seems to have both signals contained within one housing (since they're just LEDs, and as mentioned, cost less than the plastic housing). The lower housing with the 2-digit display counts down how many seconds the pedestrians have before 'don't walk' appears. Now THAT part, I'm not sure if it's broken by design or not. What's so difficult about walk if it says you can and don't if it says don't?

Posted by: Jay911 at March 27, 2005 02:19 PM

Jay911. The countdown timers are useful because people do not all walk at the same speed. A senior citizen with difficulty walking will not be able to get across the street at the same pace a teenager in excellent health.

Posted by: Carlos Gomez at March 27, 2005 05:19 PM

ill save you all the trouble... it probably isnt a hardware problem; i.e. there is probably nothing broken with the sign itself. crosswalk signs are controlled via a PLC (programmable logic controller - like a mini computer) which are programmed along with the traffic lights by a city worker. typically an electrical engineer programs PLCs, but often in DOT (department of transportation) applications they just let a civil engineer or whoever is around handle it. so, the problem is in the programming of the device - two outputs are simultaneously energized when this should obviously not be the case.

so, no offence to government workers - i love US government, but the problem is with a local DOT worker not doing his/her job properly. what do u know... the government f*cked something up - who woulda thought?

Posted by: Tripp at March 27, 2005 10:25 PM

Jay 911 and Tripp i agree with both of you.

all the PLCs in RI are Windows based. Inside the control boxes are 7in. LCD screen, mini-keyboard, micro mouse, VIA mini-itx 1.2 GHz mainboard, 120 gig SATA 150 HD, 2 80mm cooling fans, VIA RJLS384-B motherboard to streetlights controller, High Speed internet (courtesy of cox), stereo speakers, Unreal Tournament 2004, DVD-RW Drive, Cold cathode blue lights, ATI Radeon 9800 PRO AGP video card,Windows server 2003,micropone,350 Watt PSU,chair chained to street post.

well at least the one i saw had these specs

Posted by: iLIVEinRI at March 30, 2005 06:13 PM

IN ENGLISH!

Posted by: Administrator00192 at March 30, 2005 09:05 PM

No

Posted by: unknown at March 31, 2005 03:55 PM

Sorry wrong name.

the correct name is iLIVEinRI

Posted by: iLIVEinRI at March 31, 2005 03:56 PM

What it really says: Slap pedestrians!

Posted by: Loren Pechtel at March 31, 2005 06:27 PM

We ain't no people slapppers here in RI! where do u live. the state of slaplahome

Posted by: iLIVEinRI at April 1, 2005 09:29 PM

more like slap a homo

Posted by: iLIVEinRI at April 1, 2005 09:30 PM

remind me to never visit RI

Posted by: IhateRI at April 20, 2005 09:09 PM

I am an electrical engineer who works with PLC's. This is likely a hardware failure (not necessarily a programming error). The outputs of a PLC are not usually fused and the transistors can short out. If a relay output is used, it is possible that a relay is stuck. I've seen both of these problems.

Posted by: eedude at August 4, 2005 12:11 AM

"Actually, it seems to be saying that you should push people into traffic. That interpretation might not hold up in court though.

Posted by: Maurs at Mar 26, 2005 12:27:18 AM"

ROFL!

Posted by: Keno at October 24, 2005 09:38 PM

It obviously says "Stop walking"

Posted by: cc at February 25, 2006 07:59 PM