I cautiously head to the front of the line, where everyone can see me and judge how fast I am traveling as I proceed through the turn. Typically, I act as a crossing guard here, too, directing the cars to pass me, assuring them that I can see them and will not make any dangerous, unexpected moves.

I absolutely HATE when motorcyclists do this, but they are typically traveling at the same speed as automobiles, so there's no good reason.

Usually I'll get behind a car turning left to let them break the way. And I'll stand while pedaling to create a more noticeable profile. Not a big deal with most ordinary four way intersections, but my area has a couple of starfish intersections with five or more possible paths, so following a lead car helps establish my direction more clearly for other drivers.

This is exactly what I do. If the left turning lane is long and I get in line, I'm afraid that an impatient driver will try to go around me and sideswipe me. I was also reading one of the Bicycle Magazine's on-line articles about legal things cyclists do and why and this was one of them. They recommended splitting the lanes on the right side of the left turning lane and going to the front.

This is wrong. You need to be well aware of the entire intersection going in, ie before you get there, and conspicuously signal with your entire arm for everyone to see. I also filter to the front if I'm more than 2 cars back; when I get to the front I stick my lanky arm out to the left and repeat that again right before the light turns. Drivers will freak out if they don't know what you're doing, and the last thing you want is someone behaving erratically because they assume you are going to do something stupid.

2 problems here:

1) you can't accelerate as fast as car can, which puts you in the middle of a traffic line with which you cannot keep pace. This is dangerous and pisses people off, leading to like aggressive/punish passing by dumbasses on their way to Starbucks. That is, unless you live in Oregon...nicest drivers I've ever encountered were in around Bend and also Coos Bay.

2) cycling in traffic on the hope that stupid drivers will just "figure it out" is asking for trouble. You should ride proactively and defensively.

Really? I've only ever heard that lane-splitting is legal in CA (for bikes and motorcycles)

I always split, riding the paintstripe between the forward-going lanes and the left-turn lanes. I position myself forward of all cars, at the front of the crosswalk, straight ahead of the lane line. There always seems to be plenty of room for me to turn way wider than left-turning cars, and not get close to oncoming left-turning cars.

If you want to split hairs: There is no law that allows lane sharing/splitting/filtering. There's only no law to prohibit it. The motorcycle handbook is weasely, implying that it's inadvisable without saying anything about what's permissible. The driver handbook does not mention it at all. This is how everyone seems to like it. We have a lot of 2-lane left turn lanes around here and it's pretty unclear what you are allowed to do. It seems like the answer is "whatever you think will work just don't piss anyone off"

I had a conversation with a taxi driver about filtering this morning, but dealing with right turns. He was curious who would be at fault if a cyclist rolled up on the right of a right turning car and got hit. I told him it is a real gray area that I don't think it's legal but there is nothing really saying you can't filter either.

That's the problem with many edge bike lanes, because they lead many cyclists to do exactly that. In 49 states, motorists are also required to turn right from as near to the curb as practicable to help prevent passing on the right (which is why most bike lanes have dashed lines near intersections). Oregon is the one state that does NOT allow cars to merge into bike lanes near right turns. Oregon law basically wants cyclists to get right-hooked.

This is also why it's not really safe to be in a bike lane zooming past stopped traffic. If you do so, you have to be on high alert for potentially turning cars. Don't let the paint think for you.

Why wait behind the 1st car? Why not wait in front of, and to the right of, the 1st car waiting to turn left? Either way you could swing wide and let other cars turn left as you head for the right side of the receiving road. Of course that assumes there's a place for you on the receiving road, either a separate travel lane or a bike lane.

It's not something I do, just curious.

I agree and told him I always tried to hang to the left of the right most lane to help turners. I also said it's a bad way to be passing drivers and it would likely be the cyclists fault. Here sometimes it's hard to get to the right most edge when turning since there is always parked cars and then there is the natural gap getting along side them then trying to head into the right turn. Leaving an opening for cyclists to try to get by and using an Idaho stop while not being aware.

Yep, there are mindless ones among all of us, both cyclists and motorists. No matter what our choice of conveyance that day, we must always be aware of others around us. Sadly some aren't, which is when those tragedies happen.

That's exactly what I do. Front of the crosswalk, with the left-turning cars behind and left of me, and forward-going cars behind and right of me. Nobody can miss me (unless they're texting).

This is how I do it. 2-3 lanes to get to the turn lane, or make a right turn and u turn. I wouldn't be riding if I was in that much of a hurry.

I'm not fast or a strong sprinter but I routinely beat cars into the intersection from stops, and often have to brake behind the lead cars when I take the lane for left turns. Unless the driver is particularly aggressive and floors the accelerator I have no difficulty matching or beating them into and midway across a typical intersection.

But maintaining that speed is another thing. Usually by the time I've reached the other side of the intersection most drivers are passing me.

The point is, I don't find it unsafe to take the lane for a left turn, either from the front of the lane if I happened to get there first, or behind a lead car. As I noted before, in busy traffic and complex intersections I prefer to get behind the first or second car in the left turn lane and let them break the path. As I complete the turn safely the flow of traffic is beginning to pick up speed and I'll merge toward the right to minimize delaying cars behind me. But often I need to brake or pedal less aggressively, because the cars in front aren't going as fast as I'd prefer.

I think you misunderstand.

First, remember that we are turning left here. I am in front of everyone between the left turn and straight lanes; when the light changes I make the left alongside the car next to me that is also turning left. At no time am I in front of anyone.

Second, the OP mentioned cars that "freeze" because they don't 'get" what he is doing, even with a signal. My point is after they see my turn perhaps they will figure it out, but by that time I am long gone.

FWIW, I've been doing this for over 40 years, about 1500 commuter miles last year alone (in L.A.!) with no problems.

Safe, proactive and defensive, every time...

This.

Otherwise, if i am the only vehicle making a left-turn i use arm-signals to communicate my intent to the on-coming, left-turn driver(s)/traffic.

This. Waiting in line is both pointless and more likely incur delays.

Sure it is. Motorcycles aren't bicycles and shouldn't be operated like bicycles.

Every intersection and every day is different. Sure, there are some patterns that repeat over time, but i take every instance individually instead of having some sort of plan. All I can say is that my DEFAULT is to get to the front by filtering. If the light turns green too soon I just merge into a gap formed by traffic starting to roll. Thankfully, cellphone use has made it ridiculously easy to catch a gap in traffic as almost everyone is looking at the device and late moving off a green light.

One final note: I am a fast rider and my acceleration from stopped is the same as a car in city traffic, and I can get up to 20+MPH in a couple of heartbeats. So I am not overly concerned about "blocking" any motorists behind me in a city grid (where I do the bulk of my commuting).

Most of the reasons why I commute on a bicycle are related to not waiting for anything I don't have to. So long as I don't cause anyone else to "react" to me, I am GOING!

The reason for stopping behind the first car is because s/he has usually already gone as far forward as is practical. Either right up to the cross-walk, or right up to the edge of the intersection. Being any more forward than that is a bad idea in either case. And, yes, I swing wide through my turn and half the time following cars pace me through but do not attempt to pass, and half the time they do pass when they see that my line gives them plenty of room to do so.

It's safer, less likely to produce any rage in other drivers and you also don't slow anybody down. I usually start as fast as the car for the starting of the turn, then move to it's side. If I were first, driver behind me might hesitate to drive parallel to me turning, but when I move over to the side of the car in front, it is when I'm sure it's safe and the others can just follow the car in front of them. That's been my experience so far at least.

Always ride in traffic, although bicycles aren't allowed to use car roads where there are separate bicycle lanes. The reason I chose to ride and find it safer in car roads is for another topic, but I'm happy to say that riding the way I do - no riders honk me, can't remember the last time anyone did. So I guess it's not bothering anyone too much. Just stay visible, predictable and get out of the way when It's safer/smarter, while taking the lane when that is the smart option.

My main problem with filtering is that you invariably force motorists who have already passed you, to pass you again. That can absolutely trigger rage among some people. Unless of course it's backed up for miles and there's no chance of any car passing you again. But that's why I prefer to take my place in line most of the time. Cars arriving after me (behind me) have not passed me before, so there's none of that "dammit I just passed that guy!!" feelings.

Cyclists don't like slower cyclists to jump ahead of them at stop lights, causing delays for other cyclists who have to pass them again. It's not very courteous to do the same to motorists, either.

Heavily dependent on the circumstances. If there is no right turn lane and just a bike lane or shoulder I'll filter up to the front. If there is a right turn lane then I don't want to pull out into potential traffic just to cut back into the straight lane. If the road is a high-speed road and the cars will pass me immediately then I'll wait in line. If it's a dense urban intersection then I'll pull to the front since car/bike speed is not too different in my city. If the cars decided to pass me right before the light then I'll pass them since I want to mess with them. There are infinite scenarios, but it's interesting to hear how others do this. Good question.

I had a fool on a fixie do that to me. He filtered past me in the bike lane, bumped my front wheel while track standing poorly, jumped the light with the intersection still occupied, then shoaled me for several blocks when I caught up to him.
Some just don't have a clue how they effect others.

I do like several others have mentioned - go to the right of the left turn lane just in front of the first car. In my experience if I'm there first (and on the right) the first car usually stops to the left and just behind me - I'm sure so they can keep an eye on me. I can turn left without slowing any of the cars down by keeping to the outside of the turn. And nobody has to get around me again as I ride on roads with shoulders.

This sounds about right, but apparently there are many who like sitting behind cars so they can breathe their exhaust and risk getting run over when the cars start moving. All so they don't offend anyone. God forbid you offend someone.