Advocacy & Safety - Turning onto a high speed road with no signal

My workplace driveway is on a high speed four lane highway. The lanes are narrow (about 9 feet wide) and traffic is rolling at 50 mph plus. There is no traffic control signal so one must wait for a break in traffic to enter the road. I have to make a left, so this can sometimes take several minutes since I need to wait for a break in both directions.

Occasionally, when there is a break in all lanes except the far right lane, I will pull out into the left traffic lane and ride there until I can merge into the right lane. So there I am, riding 20 mph with two oncoming lanes of 50 mph traffic just to my left, and one of same direction traffic on my right, thinking "am I nuts?" If a vehicle crosses the center line I wouldn't have much room to avoid being hit on one side or the other.

Do you consider it safe to ride in the left lane like this, or would you wait for a clear shot to the right lane? Keep in mind it is usually only a short distance until I am able to merge into the right lane.

I think this is risky only as while you are pulling out and crossing to the inside lane, a driver in the outside lane could be confused as to your destination and/or be switching from outside to inside lane.

Al

MDo you consider it safe to ride in the left lane like this, or would you wait for a clear shot to the right lane? Keep in mind it is usually only a short distance until I am able to merge into the right lane.
If you think your technique is the best choice for that location, and is legal, what difference does it make what others' think about it? I'd ignore all opinions of your method, especially dogma/agenda driven critiques, unless someone offers a better way that would work for you.

I think this is risky only as while you are pulling out and crossing to the inside lane, a driver in the outside lane could be confused as to your destination and/or be switching from outside to inside lane.

Al

Good point. I have noticed that drivers in the outside lane do sometimes get "spooked" and slow down. I never had one try to change lanes on my butt yet though.

Good point. I have noticed that drivers in the outside lane do sometimes get "spooked" and slow down. I never had one try to change lanes on my butt yet though.
I have once seen a car on car collision where a driver was making a right turn onto a multi lane arterial. Their plan was to turn across the outside lane that had an oncoming vehicle with enough clearance to cross in front of, but not enough to turn in front of, into the empty inside lane.

The driver in the outside lane sees the driver start to pull out and merges into the inside lane. Crash.

This maneuver is very common where I live with pretty much all arterials being multi lane. I saw this collision, but have seen a few close calls and hundreds of times with no issue at all.

I was thinking of this, but mirror image I guess, for your situation. Except of course a motor vehicle would be expected to pull into inside lane. However you being on a bicycle the other drivers may be expecting you to pull to the far right - instead of pulling into the closest available lane like you do as legally expected.

Al

Do you consider it safe to ride in the left lane like this, or would you wait for a clear shot to the right lane? Keep in mind it is usually only a short distance until I am able to merge into the right lane.

I've done this myself on a similar road to avoid a long wait. Only had to once though. I don't see any reason why not to do it. Al brings up a good point about what to pay attention to. Creating a gap to merge into in the right lane is easy enough; certainly it's more likely that a motorist will slow to let you over than for a busy four lane arterial to have all four lanes clear.

An alternative would be to turn right onto the road and go until there is a safer intersection to cross at. Perhaps one with a light.