I don't have a situation like that on my going to werk (no, that's the way it should be spelled) route but I do on my run for groceries, where time isn't as important. If traffic is heavy I don't bother trying to cross lanes in it, but just use the cross walks and take 2 lights to make a left turn.

Most of the time though traffic isn't a problem and I'm able to slip over to the right hand side of the left turn lane and just go around with the traffic. I did have one close call in that situation though. There was a line of traffic in all the lanes waiting for the light, and I was pedaling up to the front of it (of course) on the right side of the left lane when a driver in the lane to the right me opened his door in front of me. To empty his ash tray, it turned out. I am careful when passing parked cars to notice if there is anyone in the car that might open the door, but this one was a bit of a surprise.