FWIW, cyclists do that for their own safety. It gets them out from between the cars stacked up behind. And also lets them clear the intersection while most cars are stopped (cross traffic stopped, same-way traffic only getting started).

While you’re asking for better pedestrian infrastructure, consider asking for protected bike lanes as well.

Yeah, I try not to block crosswalks if it looks like anyone will be using it, but partially into the crosswalk often feels like the safest place to be while waiting for a light.

We get those bike "boxes" - the first spot right next to the lights, that is reserved for cyclists - and they help a lot.

In London we have those but cars frequently stop over them either because the drivers are ignorant of the rules, they don’t care or they were too ambitious about making a green and ended up being forced to stop at the last minute. So as a cyclist I frequently have to push up to the pedestrian crossing for my own safety from cars behind.

The "dedicated" bike lane that cars are merging into to turn right?

No right turn or dedicated lights and they cyclists still do it. Quit making excuses

"They" = "some".

>I live in NY now and though the traffic laws are roughly the same,

No right turns on red is a huge improvement. Don't the five boroughs have that?

You are absolutely right! I've barely driven in the time I've lived here and I had forgotten. It does make a huge difference.

Sadly I find cars turning left on green are just as much of a problem.

I think an easy safety improvement is a median that extends past the crosswalk/bike lane[0].