Depending on the intersection crosswalk buttons do actually do something. Some lights use pressure plates to tell when cars are waiting for them and wont change unless they are, so those ones need the button to tell when a pedestrian is waiting at the intersection.
I think this is like that “close door” button in the elevator and the pedestrian “press for crosswalk” button. It doesn’t do shit.
Depending on the intersection crosswalk buttons do actually do something. Some lights use pressure plates to tell when cars are waiting for them and wont change unless they are, so those ones need the button to tell when a pedestrian is waiting at the intersection.