This is a lot like the conductive metal buttons the city installed earlier this year at a number of pedestrian crossings here in Ottawa. They've worked great all summer, they don't wear out as quickly because they aren't mechanical, but they're just now starting to realize that once February hits and it's -30C outside you'll have to take off your gloves and touch some metal to cross the street. Oh well, I guess the cost of progress is sometimes being stuck to a metal pole.