Bike lane at Willow & Highland: is this legal?

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

I've never quite understood the auto rules for the bike lane at the intersection of Willow & Highand (one of life's little mysteries).

I was driving there yesterday approaching the light and preparing to turn right (east) on to Highland. I was in the left-most lane (to the left of the bike lane in the image). Cars were passing me on the right in the far right lane and making the right turn. Needless to say, something felt off.

Usually the right-most lane has parked cars but it was street cleaning day so it was empty.

Was I in the wrong lane to make a right turn or were the drivers passing me on the right being jerks?

Comments

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I turn left from Willow onto Highland (in a car) every day and I strongly agree with this. The closest I have ever come to hitting a bike is when I was waiting at that green light to turn left, got my opportunity, and started turning only to see a bicycle flying into the intersection passing me on my left. Please don't do that.

The best option for a bicycle who wants to make that left turn unfortunately is probably to seek an alternate route, and I think almost all of them do because I rarely ever see bikes try it. It's going to be easier to make that left off Cutter (with two lanes) or even from the stop sign on Hancock.