In spite of all the talk around here about "taking the lane" while riding, I rarely see anyone in Winnipeg actually doing that. I had to do it this morning on Shaftesbury to avoid the water pooling on the side, and I regularly do it on a section of Parker to avoid being run off the road again (happened last summer - I had to hit the ditch to avoid being hit by an Chevy Astro). Does anyone here see this, or are we stereotypically polite Canadians who don't want to inconvenience motorists?

I rarely see anyone riding on the road let alone "taking the lane" here in Edmonton. I take the lane only on the rarest of occasion. Sometimes in construction zones and stuff like that. 99.9% of the time i'm riding around the right tire mark of a lane, gives me alittle room to move to the right if need be and cuts down (or eliminates?) right hooks.

Depnds where I am. I commute form the north end of main street, down salter, down maryland to ellice then over to portage. If I am on North main I 'll usually take the sidewalk cause its 70 km per hr and the sidewalk is basically a bike path. Anywhere else I ride about 3 ft from the curb, but I've learned to pull out and occupy the lane at lights. I try to signal what I'm going to do and be predictable. Sherbrook/Notre dame/Maryland corner I always occupy the lane as fully as I can. On the other hand, if i am in the only lane and traffic is piling up behind me I'll try to get out of the way. Basically I try to be assertive enough to be considered as traffic. Overall very few problems.

I do it if there is an obstruction or safety issue, I do signal to motorists BEFORE I move over.