Advocacy & Safety - Empty parking lanes

I have a question for you A&S guys. Everyday i ride a road that has two travel lanes with a bus lane to the right of them and a parking lane immediately to the right of the bus lane. This road is a designated bike route (no lane or shoulder, but bike route nonetheless) with signage giving bikes full use of the lane. Sometimes there will be a block with no cars parked in the parking lane, but i usually just hold my position at the right of the bus lane since there are cars parked on the next block and i do not want to swerve in and out of my lane.

Is this a correct procedure? Should i be moving into the empty parking lane?

I think you're doing the right thing. Keep the parking lane for cars. This will keep the cagers from getting to confussed.

I have a similar situation when I ride through downtown Gulfport. I just stay in the traffic lane and let the driver's think whatever they want.

It's better to hold a straight line while in traffic, that way there's no question of what you are going to do in the mind of the driver coming up in the road behind you.

Actually, it seems the safest to me the way i have been doing it, however, taxis are making me rethink that. The lane is a bus only lane, but taxis share it also. They are always cutting it close on this particular road, and yesterday was the final incident that pushed me over the edge. I heard a honk so i looked back and a taxi was just a few inches away from my back tire, then he proceeded to pass me narrowly missing my left side. After passing me he swerved to the left across two traffic lanes. I don't understand why he wants to put me in danger to intimidate me and then endanger the other motorists swerving in front of them. Obviously he needed to be to the left (unless of course he had just seen a fare) so why not just move to the left lane to pass me?

Usually my MO is to get pissed and have some words, but this time i took his plate number and called it in. After i called it in i was worrying that maybe i wasn't riding "as far to the right as possible". Now i worry that the driver knows that i must ride that road everyday at the same time, (5pm rush hour) and if he gets points against him or even looses his medallion then i could be targeted.

right lane bus and bike only is nice sometimes. no need to move into the parking lane- as far right as practicable...

Actually, it seems the safest to me the way i have been doing it, however, taxis are making me rethink that. The lane is a bus only lane, but taxis share it also. They are always cutting it close on this particular road, and yesterday was the final incident that pushed me over the edge. I heard a honk so i looked back and a taxi was just a few inches away from my back tire, then he proceeded to pass me narrowly missing my left side. After passing me he swerved to the left across two traffic lanes. I don't understand why he wants to put me in danger to intimidate me and then endanger the other motorists swerving in front of them. Obviously he needed to be to the left (unless of course he had just seen a fare) so why not just move to the left lane to pass me?

Usually my MO is to get pissed and have some words, but this time i took his plate number and called it in. After i called it in i was worrying that maybe i wasn't riding "as far to the right as possible". Now i worry that the driver knows that i must ride that road everyday at the same time, (5pm rush hour) and if he gets points against him or even looses his medallion then i could be targeted.

The taxi driver was an idiot... ignore him or report him.