Begging for Green

I arrive at a light, and it just changes so that I can cross, alas I forgot to beg for green and didn't realize that it was safe so I am stuck through an entire cycle again. Another time I'm cycling down the path, a vehicle starts getting to a light and it immediately changes to red for me to allow it to cross. Anybody who says that Amsterdam is anti-car is out of their mind. My personal favorite are the times when the bike signal (or pedestrian signal) is green, but the other is not. I can find no logic there except for sadists in the planning department who want to force people to beg. Of course, the worst crimes are when you arrive, wait, then realize that the other person standing next to the button was too proud to beg. The city planners have chosen our fate, and we just have to accept it.

Nobody likes waiting at a light for the pedestrian who never comes, but for lights that have fairly consistent traffic throughout a day, why must we still beg for a pedestrian (or bike) signal? The light changes, cars are proceeding parallel to how you are crossing, but no walk signal comes because you didn't press the button in time. With long lights that force every direction to be controlled, this time can really add together. It also sends a signal: cars are OK, but pedestrians and cyclists are not. Perhaps this is the environmentally-friendly way to do things, as any time a car spends at a light is a bit extra wasted emissions, but surely this can be offset by having fewer people driving due to the inconvenience.

I can understand the need to beg for a light on a small side road that crosses a major artery, but there is no reason in a crowded city for begging for green.