Commuting - Confused about intersections

Word,
On my commute I go through a couple three lane intersections. There's a left turn, straight, and right turn lane. I'm always going straight, so I ride in the middle lane. My question is, when there are already a few cars in the lane ahead of me, should I stop behind the first one I catch up to or should I move up to the stop line on the right of the cars? Thanks

My opinion is: You act like you were driving your car and you wouldn’t “jump” line in your car.

Providing I'm not going to block the cars through the intersection, I usually cruise up to the front-right of the lane. If the intersection is too narrow and I'll block the cars, I just hop into the line and take my turn.

I'd give that a depends answer.

Depends on how wide the lane is, how wide the right turn lane is, how quick traffic tends to move there, how quick you can accelerate, how often do cars turn right from the center lane, is it on a hill, etc.

Basically I'd say to pay attention to the situation and do what seems comfortable to you. The one intersection like that on my commute has a wide lane and it's on an uphill, so I always stay to the right side of the lane.

If there is an option to go straight from the left turn lane and I'm turning left, I'll get in line with cars. If there is an option to turn right and I'm going straight, I get in line with the cars. Otherwise, if taking my spot in line will not cause cars behind me to miss the light, then I'll get in line with the cars. If I will delay cars too much controlling the lane, I'll divide the lanes so that after the intersection, I am to the right of traffic.

Depends, too, on what follows the intersection. For example, at one intersection on one of my routes home, immediately following the intersection a bike lane starts. But it's not there leading up to the intersection. So I roll up to the stop line along the curb. As soon as the light changes, I'm shootin' for the bike lane, and it has no impact on the car traffic in the right lane. If, however, I'd end up in the right lane along with the car traffic following the light, then I just pull up behind the cars; they'd have to pass me anyway if I rolled up next to them.

If I don't block traffic on the right lane, I usually move up in front. This way I can accelerate quickly out of the way when the light turns green.

I have a similar section on my commute. The traffic pattern is such that the right turn lane sees the least use and is "hidden" behind a gradual bend in the road. When people do turn right, they slow down dramatically. The center lane drivers are going 40mph and checking voice mail on their cell phones.

Even though I have every right to the center lane, I choose to stay right and not push my luck. Use your best judgement!

I also have a few "confusing" intersections. In mine, there are two lanes: a left turn lane and a straight / right turn lane. Most people in the right lane are making the right turn, but I want to go straight. Usually when I get to the intersection, the right lane is empty, but I know that cars will be coming and wanting to make the right turn.

In these situations I have done one of two things. Either I will stay by the curb and hang back a few car lengths from the intersection to allow room for cars to get in front of me to make the right. However, frequently this confuses the people driving and they still stop behind me and motion fo rme to go.

Lately I have changed to moving over to the left of the right lane. This gives the people turning right room on my right to make the turn next to me. However, I don't move over left enough for a car to pull alongside me and still go straight. Then when the light changes I move back over to the right side of the straight lane. This also give the benefit of when the light does turn I am not on the right side of a car that wants to turn right.

So far this second option seems to be working better than the first in terms of cars not being confused by what I am doing. However, I just wonder about the "legality" of it. Does anyone else run into a similar situation? What have you done?