I try my best not to make cars pass me twice. So if I am going straight at a light, I will generally get behind the last car and take the lane. I don't want someone turning right in front of me. Halfway across the intersection, I get to the right again.

As for that road you described, I would probably walk it across. There's one section on my commute that is only one lane each way that I walk across on the way home. (On the way in, it's no problem because there's hardly any traffic there at 6 a.m.)