Traffic light sensors are magnetic. Your bicycle does not create enough magnetic field for the signal system to see you. If there is a WALK button at that location try using it or buy a strong bar magnet and fasten it to the lowest possible point on your bike frame. Motorcycles also have this problem at some signals.

Al's suggestion is potentially more dangerous than running the light as there is no safe time for a cyclist to cross southbound lane of Veterans Way to get to the pedestrian signal at the SW corner of the intersection. There is no crosswalk to cross Veterans Way (nor should there be one since non-motorized traffic is banned from the Arterial), and cutting across oncoming traffic without knowing drivers' intention to turn (manyfail to use turn signal), could be deadly.

As for attaching a "strong bar magnet" to my bike (and all other bicycles whose riders use this, the only crossing for eastbounders to get to the other side of the Northway, since bikes aren't allowed on the Arterial) is to treat cyclists as less than other operators of vehicles. This also fails to recognized that the traffic law of all 50 states grants bicyclists the rights and duties of vehicle drivers. It follows directly that the traffic control system must make it possible for bicyclists to obey the law, or else a state is acting in contempt of its own legal authority. Yet the Institute of Traffic Engineers specified the defective actuators, and the state highway departments adopted them, with the full knowledge that bicycles are legal roadway traffic.

This is another example of where Complete Streets will help cyclists and pedestrians navigate a car-centric transportation system which has relegated them to second-class citizenry. Too bad it only applies to new and renovation projects.

I'd like to hear what SS Dept. of Public Safety's Risk Management person has to say on this. Sounds like I'm hearing a Department of Public Works justification for a non-working situation.

Jim , please call Marilyn Rivers, Director of Risk and Safety/Safety Compliance Officer at 518 210-3243 x2612 and request that that sensor be updated and/or fixed. She likes to be made aware of things like this.

Thank you Charlie. Marilyn Rivers has been contacted and she has passed the info on to DPS Commissioner Mathiesen and Deputy Commissioner Finneran.

Still no word from DPS Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.

YouTube video documents this problem:

Sorry, Above video didn't take with YouTube. Here's a replacement video documenting the problem:

Here's a new twist on the signal. I press the pedestrian cross button, return to my place in the traffic lane next to a right-turning bus who is waiting for the green signal. The ped crossing light goes off, but we still have a red light. The video says the rest:

This location is actually the responsibility of NYSDOT, not the City of Saratoga Springs. Bicycle detection is problematic, especially with the lack of ferrous metals on high end bikes. That still does not explain the lack of detection for the bus. I will refer this issue to them.

Last night around 8:30pm, I had to use the pedestrian cross signal button to get across the crosswalk for the CV Whitney Arterial from Veterans Way to Gick. I'm unable to get a green light to cross using the vehicle traffic landing spot unless a motorized vehicle is behind me.