Introduced in 1984, the PB/5 pedestrian crossing button reshaped how Australians move through cities and suburbs. Designed by David Wood, Louis Challis and Frank Hulscher, it was created to support pedestrians who are blind or have low vision through sound and touch.

The locator ‘tick’, vibrating arrow and steady crossing tone are functional, but also instantly recognisable. Produced mechanically and in real time, the sound is direct, rhythmic and hard to ignore. Over decades, it has settled into daily life – a small but constant presence at intersections, train stations and busy streets.

Its reach extends beyond infrastructure. The crossing tick was later sampled in Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’, carrying a piece of Australian street sound into global pop.

The recording captures how thoughtful sound design can shape behaviour, attention and safety – and how an everyday utility can become a shared cultural reference point.