Originally Posted by
PatrickGSR94
Why wait behind the 1st car? Why not wait in front of, and to the right of, the 1st car waiting to turn left? Either way you could swing wide and let other cars turn left as you head for the right side of the receiving road. Of course that assumes there's a place for you on the receiving road, either a separate travel lane or a bike lane.
It's not something I do, just curious.
The reason for stopping behind the first car is because s/he has usually already gone as far forward as is practical. Either right up to the cross-walk, or right up to the edge of the intersection. Being any more forward than that is a bad idea in either case. And, yes, I swing wide through my turn and half the time following cars pace me through but do not attempt to pass, and half the time they do pass when they see that my line gives them plenty of room to do so.