Well, to each his own! Where i live there is a busy highway with a right turn lane into a shopping mall. I go straight thru this intersection, so by all rights I should be in the left lane. As a practical matter, I rarely do this.

If there is no traffic at all behind me and the light is already green, then yes I get into the left lane and proceed straight as I am entitle to under the law.

If the light is red or soon will be, and/or if cars are coming up from behind, sorry, but my practical response is to ride near the shoulder of the roadway, dismount, and walk across the intersection. This is especailly the case if there are cars turning to the right. I hardly wish to proceed into the correct lane and have cars pass me to the RIGHT and LEFT at the same time. I don't care what the law says, this is not only intimidating to me as a rider, but to me as a driver when I see it happen as well.

Exactly why my extremely practical solution of walking across the intersection has failed to catch on is, sadly, quite simple: it is too courteous, humble, and 'beneath the dignity' of many cyclists who want to own the road as much as any motorist, truck driver, or chewbacca redneck.

roughstuff