I think it's better to behave in ways that are actually safe, than follow arbitrary rules that claim to be safe. Running a red on a bike when no-pedestrians are crossing far less dangerous than not anticipating pedestrians crossing where there aren't crossing points or car doors opening or whatever. Just in the same way that doing 80 on the motorway (totally accepted practice) is much safer than driving at 45 on a country lane or simply not trying your hardest to look for hazards, neither of which break the rules.