Navigating the UK's bustling city streets is a challenge in itself, a daily obstacle course of slow walkers, prams, and unpredictable cyclists. But a new, infuriating urban phenomenon is adding to the commute: the rise of the 'button edger'.
Who Are The Button Edgers?
This specific group of people will wait patiently at a pedestrian crossing, often in a large group, but will pointedly avoid pressing the button to signal their intent to cross. They stand nonchalantly, as if expecting the green man to appear by magic, leaving more proactive pedestrians baffled and delayed.
The term was born on Reddit, where one frustrated Londoner recently posed the question: 'Why does no one push the buttons at pedestrian crossings any more?' They noted that this behaviour has become increasingly common in London over the last year, describing scenes where 'literally 20 people' stand around waiting for traffic to stop at a crossing that will not change automatically.
A Long-Standing Urban Grievance
This is not a new problem. Another Londoner aired identical grievances on the social platform three years ago, detailing their daily experience with a pelican crossing near their home. They recounted how they would frequently find people already waiting, and upon pressing the button themselves, the lights would change immediately, allowing everyone to cross safely.
The core question remains: why does this happen? Theories abound. Some attribute it to simple laziness, while others suggest a heightened fear of germs in a post-pandemic world, with people unwilling to touch a public button. Another possibility is a widespread belief that the lights will change automatically anyway, a misconception that does not hold true at many pedestrian-only crossings.
The frustration is palpable online. One person commented bluntly, 'People are morons,' while another recounted having to 'awkwardly lean round a man just stood there' to reach the button. A more sympathetic view was also offered, with one Reddit user noting, 'It’s honestly hard to tell if pressing the button genuinely accomplishes anything in some places,' highlighting a potential confusion over the functionality of these fixtures.
The Impact on City Life
Ultimately, the 'button edger' trend causes unnecessary delays and frustration in already congested urban environments. It creates a standoff where everyone assumes someone else will take action, leading to a collective failure to initiate the simple process that would allow everyone to continue their journey. It seems that in the heart of a modern metropolis, the simplest of tasks—pushing a button—has become a surprising social hurdle.
