The one thing I'm not clear on is whether I should or am allowed to change lanes like a car for left-hand turns.

Yes, you are allowed and you should.

I was walking my bike across a busy, under-construction intersection yesterday on my way home from owldaughter's, and a car cruised through the intersection like I didn't even exist... *sigh* There will always be crappy drivers and the ones who believe bicycles don't have the right to be on their road.

I like the Jacques-Hertel and Monk route better than St. Patrick, too.