I have one set of lights where I need a car to pull up behind me, gets frustrating waiting when it is empty.
On occasion at this junction I have been known to ride 15ft on the pavement, just so I do not RLJ, pavement scum is a little better than RLJ scum.
This time last year when I firsted started cycling to work I used to jump some of them, caused me much more aggro than it saved me time, I had someone try and take me out due to RLJ, who then shat himself when he realised I was about to catch him, darted off a side road with me still chasing, nigh on nearly gave me a heart attack trying to catch the fecker.
Anyway confession over, I realised even when you can do it "safely" it is not sensible. I have been known to shout at a pedistrian walking up to a set of ped lights "no wait for me!"