You wouldn't last long riding like that where I live. There are a handful of homicidal drivers that don't like bicycles, but even worse is that there isn't a lot of cycling traffic and the drivers just don't know to look for idiots like that.

I did notice last year when gas was over $3 per gallon that there were a few bikes blowing through red lights. There were also a few fatalities from cyclists blowing red lights. I guess there are a few who aren't smart enough to figure it out but no, it isn't normal to commute like that.