Originally Posted by
I_bRAD
Useful to know, but I usually just "look both ways before crossing the street" and then go when it is safe to do so. If there is enough traffic that you actually need the lights to change to get across, then chances are there are cars waiting with you which will trip the sensor for you anyhow.
I have this one twice-daily intersection where I am, naturally, on a low-volume road, and the sensor is deviously spaced so that a car hugging the stop line and nudging into the x-walk will be in front of it, and a 2nd car that is not riding the 1st car's butt will be behind it. Anyway, I always stop right on the sensor. Often as not I am 1st in line waiting there anyway.
This is in the straight/left lane. There is a right turn lane, and there, cars pull over to the bike lane before turning right so also miss the sensor designated for them (as well as blocking bikes).