I'm in Brazil, and as a friend of mine says, we need a "tropical vehicular cycling".
Most drivers don't obbey the law (neither do pedestrians, to be honest), so I follow the "bold-but-conscious-biker golden rule":
"I cannot be a harm to the safety or comfort of other people. No one should be 'punished' by the way I choose to ride my bike."
That means, on pedestrians crossing, I ALWAYS yeld to pedestrians, sometimes even when I have green light for me. But when there are no pedestrians to cross and no cars coming from the crossing street, then I slowly do a "rolling stop" and go.
Also, I do that because if I stay, cars accumulate behind and it is no good for them neither for me when green finally comes (I have to hurry, they have to wait, no patience, no respect, bad. If I'm already gone, no conflict, good).
Of course, this is my opinion, my traffic reality, and I don't advise anyone in doubt to follow the same methods. But I'll always consider interpersonal relations and politeness to have precedence over the cold letter of the law, specially if it is "only" traffic law (which means, made to benefit cars).
So, I invite anyone to consider this adapted golden rule I've mentioned.