Pointing at Drivers?

[alison_in_oh]

Ok, along these lines I have a question. When I'm bike commuting (and even some weekend rides) there are places that don't trip the light/signal for a bike. You guys have been posting that we are vehicles and need to obey the laws. So what do you? Wait forever for a car to come along? Sometimes I've been (cautiously) running them. Sometimes I go over and hit the walk button, but then by the time I get back out in the road, it's already flashing, blah blah blah.

You're in Portland. I'm told that just after we left in 2002, a law was passed giving cyclists the right to treat all stop signs and I believe lights as Yield. That would make it perfectly legal for you to slow, look, and go!

That's what I do when riding solo. If no cars are coming to trip the sensor, I run it. If there is traffic, I err on the side of being a good example as a bike citizen, and travel as a car would.

EDIT: Upon Googling, I can't find support for this supposed law. However, it still stands that I feel this is a safe compromise.