All the great responses to my last thread really got me thinking about this maneuver and sure enough, I found a modified version that is a great way to get across a difficult intersection. I tried the "right-turn half-fakey" the other day and it felt safe and "clean". Normally at the intersection pictured, I move left to get in the left-turn lane, but if the lights don't support it it can be easier to go with the cross-traffic. In the past I've gone into the crosswalk and then lifted my bike around 90 degrees to get headed the proper direction, but this way is much less awkward.

I really appreciate this forum for the earnest and informative debates we have regarding cycling in traffic. I think about these things a lot (obviously) but for some reason people IRL tend to look at me strangely when I start talking about lane maneuvers and the like. Thanks especially to the people who disagree

For a left turn at a difficult intersection, I don't have a problem with your maneuver. Its the full on right fakey-to go straight+run the light that I don't like.

I have to admit I have done this one in places where I lacked the nerve to get into the left turn lane.

How is that any worse than the "half fakey"? It still involves a U turn. The only difference is going straight instead of turning right on the second approach. Surely you can't dislike turning right. What's your issue with it?

I've done something similar to avoid the left-hand turn lane.

One is done to facilitate a difficult left turn... the other, the one that goes straight is for either getting past a bad stop light or cheating a stop light.

Notice that word "cheat," if that is the goal, that is the problem. That is the difference.

I disagree. The proposed maneuver is done for 2 reasons:
1-to get a left turn at a difficult intersection
2-to get this left turn fast, because you don't want to wait at the light

Notice how you do a right turn into a cross street (I'm assuming on red. At least that's what I did the last time I used that trick) and then come back into traffic. This enables you to do a left turn on your red light without waiting. You could still do this maneuver on a red light at an easy intersection and point 2 would be a valid advantage.

This is the legal version (assuming you go on green at both crossings) of the proposed left-turn half-fakey. As I recall, this was also taught to me in grade school as a good way to turn left at an intersection without getting hit. They also told me I should step off the bike and walk accross, but I like to ride too much to do that.

"Cheat" to me, implies rule breaking. As far as I know, where U turns are allowed, this doesn't brake any rules, so how exactly is it cheating? It seems more like "quickly and legally navigating an intersection".

I'm assuming a bit.

[for the half fakie] I'm assuming that the U-turn is legal, I'm also assuming that more care will be taken throughout-considering that the rider feals the left turn lane is not safe for him/her.

Again assuming a bit:

[for the full fakie] I'm assuming that the rider has less regard for traffic law, as "cheating" to save time is the primary goal. Safety of the rider (as well as others) may become secondary, to save time.

This is actually leagal and the correct way here in Iceland!!!

The following is a translation of the Iclandic traffic regulations, the section is about special regulation for bicycles:

...a cyclist should ride on the right side of the lane furthest to the right...
...A cyclist that approaches an intersection and intends to go straight across or turn left, can stay on the right side of the road. If he intends to turn left he should first ride straight across the intersection and then turn left, when it is possible without interfering with other traffic. This is valid even though traffic signs imply otherwise, unless the signs are specially meant for cyclists.

It was already stated that a half fakie can be used to save time. Just like the full one. In fact, they can both be done safely and save time. It was you who made the assumption that the full fakie rider has less regard for traffic law. I still don't understand why it's called cheating when it's 100% legal either. So if the full fakie rider does have full respect for the law, is there a problem then?

I do cross with the green. Having spent most of my life commuting on a skateboard, I've had to be vigilant about breaking as few traffic laws as possible. There is a high percentage of scofflaws on skateboards so the police tend to watch us pretty closely.

When I'm in an area with high pedestrian traffic, I sometimes will step off and walk my bike across. It all depends on the situation.

I clearly stated I was making assumptions. In my experience, many of the full fakie riders I've observed do not have full respect for traffic law. Your experience (through observation, or your own actions) may be different.