Using the full lane - who does it?

[Helmet Head]

Using the full lane does not necessarily mean riding in the very center. It means riding close enough to the center to preclude a standard width vehicle from fitting fully in the lane alongside the cyclist, which typically means riding somewhere between the left and right tracks.

When merging left, at each step you first move to the right side of the lane, true, but typically not so far right that a car driver might still try to fit entirely in the lane beside you, though he may of course pass you while still using part of the lane. Same thing when you move to the left side, when car drivers might start partially using the lane to your right to pass you.

In this sense, "using the full lane" is a misnomer. But the fact is that there is no way a 2 foot wide bicycle can truly use the full lane. Even if you are riding in the very center of a 10 foot lane, that still leaves about 4 feet on each side that other drivers may encroach on, at least some, while still passing you safely. That's okay.

This is why I think it makes sense to define "using the full lane" in terms of NOT "sharing the lane side-by-side with another standard width vehicle fully within the lane".

Serge

P.S., "using the full lane" is preferred by some over "taking the lane", because "taking" might be inferred to mean "stealing", or "taking" something that you really don't have the right to take. I'm not convinced it is likely to be taken (no pun intended) that way, but use it anyway.

[noisebeam]

Although I checked "When the lane is too narrow...", I will only do this if it is a single lane. If it is a multi-lane with both lanes available I will stay in my normal position, so as to let cars
I too have found that riding in the right third (but still well away from the gutter) of a narrow outside lane on a multilane road to be better than riding in the center. My experience is that I get more passing clearance from cars who do a partial merge into the next lane. When I am in the very center cars still try the partial merge, but bias themselves closer to me.

But I consider riding in the right third of the lane to be using the full lane aka 'taking the lane'

Al

[Helmet Head]

Great minds...

[barenakedbiker]

As a matter of principle of equal rights and responsibilities to the roadway, if a motorist uses the full lane, a bicycle driver should also use the full lane. Why be nggier of the roadway?

[genec]

Using the full lane does not necessarily mean riding in the very center. It means riding close enough to the center to preclude a standard width vehicle from fitting fully in the lane alongside the cyclist, which typically means riding somewhere between the left and right tracks.

When merging left, at each step you first move to the right side of the lane, true, but typically not so far right that a car driver might still try to fit entirely in the lane beside you, though he may of course pass you while still using part of the lane. Same thing when you move to the left side, when car drivers might start partially using the lane to your right to pass you.

In this sense, "using the full lane" is a misnomer. But the fact is that there is no way a 2 foot wide bicycle can truly use the full lane. Even if you are riding in the very center of a 10 foot lane, that still leaves about 4 feet on each side that other drivers may encroach on, at least some, while still passing you safely. That's okay.

This is why I think it makes sense to define "using the full lane" in terms of NOT "sharing the lane side-by-side with another standard width vehicle fully within the lane".

Serge

P.S., "using the full lane" is preferred by some over "taking the lane", because "taking" might be inferred to mean "stealing", or "taking" something that you really don't have the right to take. I'm not convinced it is likely to be taken (no pun intended) that way, but use it anyway.


But even that is a misnomer as a motorcycle could share your lane if you were not in the center... or perhaps a fellow cyclist. So "using the full lane" is really not true. RE: "taking the lane;" it is just easier to say... only three words and they roll off the tongue.

[Helmet Head]

But even that is a misnomer as a motorcycle could share your lane
No, because I defined it in terms of a standard width vehicle (which a motorcycle is not).

[Helmet Head]

if a motorist uses the full lane, a bicycle driver should also use the full lane.
Right, and if a motorist does not use the full lane, say because he's driving a slow tractor and is partially driving in the shoulder, a (slow) bicycle driver also should not use the full lane. Right?

[phinney]

Right, and if a motorist does not use the full lane, say because he's driving a slow tractor and is partially driving in the shoulder, a (slow) bicycle driver also should not use the full lane. Right?

Not that it's relevant to anything but proper operation of agricultural machinery is to always take the full lane and to not use the shoulder.