My preferred and patented method is the Crammond Brig Crossover Technique.
Hop on the pavement (if there is no pedestrians) just before the ped crossing, hit the button, head down the road. The traffic usually gets stopped just as you get to the Crammond Brig letting you cross into the central reso'.
And you wonder why motorists get pissed off with cyclists, the above is a prime example.
You hold up all the traffic without bothering to cross
at the junction you've pressed the button!
All the motorist will see is you pressing the button and then moving further down the street, how are they to know that when you press the button you'll cross further down?
bit stupid if you ask me and bound to wind them up