I have a few left turn strategies, each tailored to suit the specific intersection:
- *We have a few starfish/multiple-direction type intersections. For those, I prefer to get behind one or two lead cars in the left turn lane and follow them. I can still see above their roofs (unless it's a truck, which rarely happens) and watch for errant oncoming traffic.
- *For a couple of left turn scenarios without a protected left turn arrow, and busy oncoming traffic, I'll take a series of right turns to get where I'm going. I'm not in that big a hurry.
- *For a couple of intersections where the light won't change for a bicycle, I'll try to wait behind a car. If the traffic is very sparse, I'll wait through one entire change of lights and then ride through the red when there's a clear and safe break in traffic. No choice where the lights won't change for a bike, and there's no pedestrian accessible button. (First time at one particular light I waited more than five minutes (checking my watch) and several complete light changes, without a left turn signal. That's more than reasonable, unless the city plans to install showers and cots for overnight camping and a take-a-number machine for the next available green light.)