Can we just get along

Car & bike episode. Riding home from work I reach a newly-installed light alongside a railroad crossing. Left turn lane and separate left-turn signal. I wait through one light cycle, then realize that this is not a loop detector light and my presence at the signal won't induce the left signal to go green. As the last light in the sequence passes to yellow, I jump into the intersection and turn left before the cars entering the intersection from the right have a chance to react to their new green light. I cross the tracks and turn right into the next street. I'm coming off a street with a major bike lane and entering a bike boulevard. I don't hold up any car traffic during this maneuver.

Nevertheless, as I make that last right turn, I hear a driver yelling "generally people wait for a green light before proceeding." I instinctively flap my hand in his direction, in a "blah, blah, blah" signal - keep talking, I'm riding.

A few yards later I wish I'd asked him to pull over and talk instead of doing a shoutby. He's peeved because I'm just another law-breaking bicyclist. I want him to appreciate that he wouldn't be so jazzed either about having to wait through endless light cycles without ever getting a green. My maneuver is reasonable and doesn't hurt anyone. Perhaps it was a passing opportunity for some understanding?

....ever the optimist.