There is one red light I often encounter that has the sensor 2 car-lengths behind the stop line, I guess so it only triggers where there is an accumulation of cars. It certainly seems to take forever when I am the only car there and I am at the stop line. So on my bike I either stop 2 car lengths back, on the sensor, or if it is a busy time and I know cars are coming I go in front of the stop line because if I stop at the stop line, often cars give me so much following space at the light that they are behind the sensor, which I guess is kind of like the OP's case of stopping ahead of the stop line and sensor and getting enough following space that cars are behind the sensor.