when you say "taking the lane" you literally mean popping into the traffic lane and riding as if you were a car? middle of the lane? I'm new to cycling and I did this today. I did it especially when I came to an intersection in which the cars traveling in the lane with me have the option to go straight, right or left. I signal which way I'm going with my hand. I felt really exposed out there, waiting for the light to change with a car in front of me and a car behind me.

When I'm not approaching an intersection, I generally ride about 5 feet from the sidewalk, technically in "the lane", but cars can get around me with minimal effort.

So is that what ya mean by "taking the lane?" Pardon my ignorance, I just want to avoid ending up as the subject of a sad post in the advocacy and safety forum