Originally Posted by
cyccommute
There are several reasons why filtering to the front on a left turn is a very bad idea. First, if the left turning lane of cars has to wait on a left turn signal or if there is no left turn signal and the cars have to wait for on-coming traffic to clear, as a cyclist you are trapped to the right of the first left turning car and next to a line of cars that is moving on your right. People don't expect you to be in that position and, if someone is less than attentive, you could end up as a smear on the right front quarter panel of the first car in line.
Second, cars that are turning left aren't expecting to see a vehicle making the same left turn on their right. Again, you aren't in a place where a turning vehicle expect to see you. If the motorist makes a wider than normal left turn, you could still end up as a smear on the right front quarter panel of the first car in line.
Additionally, a turning car might not see you and could make a right turn into a driveway as soon as they turn left. This is a left/right hook combination.
By queuing up in line, you are in control of the cars behind you. You aren't sitting exposed to moving traffic on your right and, contrary to what some seem to think you are less likely to be hit by a car moving behind you. You are also predictable and the cars know how to deal with your movement. An on-coming motorist won't be confused by your actions as they recognize that you are turning left.
Lots of assumptions here - out of all of my commuting throughout the US - mostly west of the Mississippi, I have not found any of these adages to be true except in one single case. Perhaps your roads/drivers are different (having cycled around Denver many times I find that not to be the case but I would give you the benefit of that doubt nonetheless) then what I have experienced, but mostly I find that cars will simply drive around you. In the case that the cyclist squeezes himself between free flowing traffic and a stopped turning lane, that can be potentially dangerous but I've done it countless times and others have to, with no issues (the key therein is to filter up to the corner of the first car instead of waiting beside it...does anyone even really do that?).
Getting right-hooked is always a possibility when either you are riding in the driver's blind spot or the driver is oblivious. This is obvious and incorporating a left turn into the scenario doesn't make it any worse.
As far as your latter statement, that is absolutely false. You have
no control over the cars behind you. If you are going too slow and an opening presents itself to an inclined driver, he/she will pass you. No cyclist has any control over any vehicle on the road, that's just silly to assume you would, and is a great way to get yourself hurt. Waiting in a line of moving traffic is a great way to get rear-ended, if anything.