A few years ago, the city of Berkeley installed a new variety of street crossing signals. On some busy corridors we now have the option of pressing a button for assistance. That will cause yellow lights to pulse for about half a minute, cautioning all vehicle drivers to slow down and look for pedestrians.

I consider the lights a challenge. I try not to push that button to cross the street. Even on Ashby or College there are gaps in the traffic sufficient to cross all the way without any cars, or to cause one or two drivers to tap their brakes. I consider it a sign of weakness if I have to avail myself of the blinking lights.

In my opinion, it would also be a sign of inconsideration. I really want to share the road. I walk for transportation, but I don’t consider drivers to be the enemy, and I don’t want to make them slow down unnecessarily. The fact is, the lights will blink long enough to let any but the most mobility-challenged cross the street, and then continue to blink and request drivers to slow even though the intersection is empty.

I know: it’s odd to have an opinion about such a minor matter. Or maybe it’s not odd to have it, but it is odd to express it?

Anyway, this morning I watched a young woman cross College Avenue. She looked to be about 20. She was Asian and probably a Cal student. Although there were no cars approaching from either direction, she pushed the blinking light button like it was a requirement. She observed that the lights were in fact pulsing. Then, without looking in either direction for cars, she began to cross the street. Her gait was slow, because her eyes were on her smart phone for the full crossing.