@ Iain Gillam
I also don’t get the get in front of traffic argument either as in every case the person jumping the light slows down the whole queue of traffic whilst the traffic passes them again only to have to repeat the process at every light.
I wonder where you cycle? In my part of London (travelling between Euston and Paddington), the person at the front of the queue (me) is as quick as the other traffic, at least over a short burst, i.e. to the next lights. Like you I don’t run through red lights, but I always go well over the white line so that I don’t get wiped out by the left-turning observationally-challenged drivers (nearly got hit again today).
Basically, unless I’m knackered and/or into a headwind, I avoid the bus/cycle lane and ride with the cars. Best way to keep alive is to flow with the traffic rather than dawdle in the gutter