Originally Posted by
spare_wheel
...
When it comes to urban cycling outside of a well-designed dedicated bike facility the mantras of "be predictable" and "follow the rules of the road" are can be very bad advice.
"Can be" is the right choice of words IMO. It depends on the situation: the particular intersection, the traffic, the rider and his bike.
OP says he is a
beginner in a big city, who doesn't drive. For a beginner who has no traffic experience even driving, it will be difficult to judge things. Until he has quite a bit of experience. Learning from the start, we're better off following all of the traffic rules, first gaining the confidence and competence of traffic.