You are still rationalizing selfish behavior and doing in so doing it make all cyclists look like horses asses. When you run a stop sign or a light, you aren't only effecting yourself and those in cars, but you are effecting all those around you. Go to Copenhagen, it is the most cycled city in the world (yes more so than any in Holland, as automobiles are much more expensive in Denmark than they are in Holland). The cyclists there stop for every light and sign, even if they are turning right. Since Roman Polanski seems to be a popular topic on slate.com lets use someone such as him as an example. If a pedophile claim they are only engaging in sex with prepubescent children because they are less likely carrying HIV, or Hep C, and thus safer, would you be OK with that? I mean they probably may know someone who is afflicted by such diseases.