All the civil liberties issues aside, my grievance remains that in the complete traffic anarchy that is Toronto, the cops are apparently (and they do it every year this time, the 'bike-safe' blitz) pulling over bikes for running yellow lights.

Where I ride, in Toronto, nobody, NOBODY, EVER STOPS for yellow lights. In the last ten years I can not remember EVER seeing a car come to a stop at a yellow light, or even slow down if they are less than 50-100 feet from the intersection. Once the light is red, the more timid drivers then start thinking about slowing a bit. This affects how I ride strongly and negatively.

If the light ahead is yellow, or turning red, and a can hear that the 18-wheeler 10 feet off my back wheel (actual events here) is gearing UP, not down, then you can bet there is no way in hell I am gonna stop. The idea that this sort of thing might entitle me to a citation is just surreal.

Having said that, blowing through a red light for no apparent reason is ********, and I shudder when I see bikes (or cars, or heavy trucks ) do it.

If I bend the laws, it is because I am trying to decrease my chances of getting creamed by a car, not up them.