Yes, I was told (when I complained) that the bike lane had to be on the left side because Jackson is a bus route and they (or "the State") didn't want a bike lane sharing bus space. The bike lane works pretty well, strange as it is, until it comes to the bridge. I think they actually could have put the left turn lane for cars to the left of the bike lane... there are other places where bike lanes are sandwiched between car lanes without bollards, and they seem to work well. I am told a more "protected" design is in the works. Changing to the right side of the road would be possible with a bike-specific traffic light (also seen elsewhere in Chicago), but two blocks later I have to make a left to get to the train station.
Steve