And I'm speaking as a cyclist who has ridden in Manhattan as my main form of transportation 8 months/year for 10 years, as an occasional driver, frequent uber/taxi user that I disagree with your assessment.

Cars usually don't stop at stop signs either, they slow down, check for oncoming traffic, then go if there is none.

If you read what I wrote I said "stop at red lights." Do cars "usually" blow through red lights?

Also why does bad behavior by car drivers makes bad behavior by bicyclists acceptable?

Everybody makes rolling stops at stop signs on empty roads every once in a while. Based on my own anecdota, I wouldn't say that they usually make rolling stops though. It's still a ticket, that many local police in the US are more than happy to hand out. Not that it matters either way- it doesn't mean that it's OK for anyone to ignore stop signs as a rule.

> Everybody makes rolling stops at stop signs on empty roads every once in a while.

I don't. Nobody in my family does (at least when I'm in the car with them).

Neither do I.

So, since they're breaking the law it's ok for you to break some too.

Don't have kids yet, eh?

> You stopped at every red light on your way to work today(...)?

Yes. I bike 6 miles but only hit 7 lights because I head over to the west side greenway.

> (...) and you witnessed nearly every other cyclist doing the same?

Your original claim was:

> The overwhelming majority of bicyclists in NYC do not stop at red lights or use hand signals.

Even if I saw, say, 40% of bicyclists blow red lights, it would still contradict your claim of an 'overwhelming majority'.

Also, I'm a bit confused now about your claims. Are you claiming that a majority of bicyclists every now and then goes through a red light? Or are you claiming that a majority of bicyclists constantly go through red lights? I disagree with the latter but could agree with the former.