Right turn into bike lane, wait for traffic?
 

We have many bike lanes which are off to the right side of the normal traffic lanes. Often times I want to make a right turn onto one of these roads. Some of my friends just simply make the turn regardless if traffic is coming because there is a bike lane, and the cars aren't in the bike lane anyway, so technically it is safe.

I, however, wait for there to be a break in traffic. Maybe not a break big enough for me to pull into the normal lane in a car, but a break big enough for the car driver to see that I'm pulling into the bike lane and not their lane. It's more courtesy for them, and a bit of defensive biking on my part.

Thoughts? What do you do?

A lane's a lane,
If there isn't any potential for conflict with an oversize vehicle or other obvious issue I simply go with normal caution. If theres a stop sign or red light, I slow to a drift and go if safe and courteous.

+1. with the realization that safe actually means an acceptable degree of risk. What's acceptable is matter of individual opinion. What is and isn't courteous is similar.

Take risks, don't take chances.

I stop and make sure it's clear, then move slowly into the bike lane.

OK, around here there aren't really bike lanes. But the road outside work has a 2+ foot wide shoulder that I ride on and traffic is generally heavy so if I wait I can be there a long time. And yeah, it's pretty much a dedicated lane - if I was in a car and all the traffic was in the left lane, I'd turn right into the right lane, so no reason not to if you do it safely.

If I'm reading this right, and I'm not sure that I am, the OP is asking about making a right turn into a bike lane on a cross street (while on a bike).

If so, auto traffic in the adjacent lanes is a non-issue, but I still take it slow, and try to time it so my intent is clear to oncoming traffic. This offers a degree of protection in case there's a surprise in the lane and I need to move left. It also reduces the chance of a driver moving into the lane for his own reasons, ie to park, or maneuver around a driver to his left.

It's not a question of law or rights but protecting myself not only from what drivers should or will do, but also from what they might do.