It's a traffic lane, not a car lane. You're traffic, so you should use the left hand turn lane. When you're stopped it's the same as a motorcycle waiting to turn left. Leave your left arm out as another vehicle approaches to signal your intent. You should be able to return your hand to the handlebars in plenty of time when you see a gap in traffic.

Edit: When you start riding a bicycle for transportation the best thing to do is to stop worrying about what other people think. Whether it's your clothing decision, bike decision, or worrying that you'll make someone mad because you're following the laws instead of cowering on the edge of the road to stay out of the way.