Malfunctioning Crosswalk Signals: To Cross or Not to cross

To cross or not to cross – that is the question plaguing pedestrians at a startling number of Manhattan intersections.

Malfunctioning crosswalk signals, which display “walk” and “don’t walk” symbols simultaneously, are transforming even calm intersections into perilous places, pedestrians say.

“It’s very dangerous, especially for the kids,” said Lornett Lewisan, 48, a teacher at a day care center near the busted signal at Bleecker and Mercer Sts. “The kids have no idea what they’re supposed to do.”

The pitfalls are not confined to a single neighborhood.

Nearly a year after Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) sounded the alarm on the problem, the Daily News found failing signals at intersections across the borough – from uptown to downtown and the East Side to the West Side.

Two signals at E. Ninth St. and Fourth Ave. in the East Village were found to display the white “crossing man” and the red “flashing hand” symbols at the same time.

“I’ve noticed a lot of these in the neighborhood recently,” said Patricia Dahl, a 45-year-old writer. “I think it’s very dangerous because it’s confusing people.”

Further north, on busy Third Ave. at E.38th St., retiree Steven Sack took one look at the malfunctioning signal and shook his head in disgust.

Sack said he called 311 Monday to complain about the issue.

“They said they were going to come, but they didn’t show up,” said Sack, 63. “It’s terrible. I’m afraid to cross the street.”

The News even found one broken signal in the heart of Times Square, at W. 45th St. and Seventh Ave.

A Department of Transportation spokesman said the problem “occasionally” arises when the picture-showing signals, which were unveiled in 2003, “reach the end of their expected seven-year life cycle.”

The spokesman emphasized that the dueling symbols flash simultaneously only during the “walk phase.” He added that they’re being replaced with newer technology – signals with reconfigured light-emitting diode screens.

Brewer, who expressed her concerns about the broken signals to the DOT in January, said she still sees them all over the city. “I think the DOT owes us all an answer,” Brewer said.