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Take a look at this picture, of a junction with an advance stop line (ASL). While you're there, look at these ones too. Now take a look at The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, sec. 43, para. 2, quoted here with added emphasis:

(2) Where the road marking shown in diagram 1001.2 has been placed in conjunction with light signals, “stop line” in relation to those light signals means—

(a) the first stop line, in the case of a vehicle (other than a pedal cycle proceeding in the cycle lane) which has not proceeded beyond that line; or

(b) the second stop line, in the case of a vehicle which has proceeded beyond the first stop line or of a pedal cycle proceeding in the cycle lane.

(Diagram 1001.2 shows the two-stop-lines-with-bike-between road marking that denotes an advance stop line.)

Note in particular that cyclists are only allowed to use the advance stop line if they are coming from the cycle lane. Now look again at the picture. What is the second stop line for? As there's no cycle lane, any cyclist who uses the ASL is running the red light.

In fact, take a look at this junction. Ignoring the worn-out red tarmac and markings, this cycle lane is really useful, as it makes motorists think before they turn left across the path of cyclists. But consider what happens if a cyclist wants to turn right here. Unless his bike has a shimmy-right function, he can't legally use the advance stop line because he can't enter it from the cycle lane.

Maybe I sound like I'm nitpicking. I mean, if you're a cyclist, and you use the stop line provided for cyclists in the manner intended, then this is a good thing, and the law has no problem with that. But the fact is that we build junctions like this, where the intended manner of use is to break the law, and we expect cyclists to make judgement calls as to when to follow the law and when to ignore it.

If you've ever wondered why it is that cyclists, on the whole, treat traffic laws as guidelines rather than as absolutes, and why we roll our eyes when some public figure condemns the running of red lights (or such) with the rhetoric that “road traffic laws are there for everyone's safety;” now you know. If we want to discourage those cyclists who wantonly ignore traffic lights or ride on pavements from so doing, then we need to start by laying out roads and cycle tracks so that you don't need to break the law to use them.

While I'm online, I'd like to wish my cousin Andy the best of luck in the Over the Edge ride in Rochdale today. He should be starting any minute now.