Originally Posted by
megalowmatt
This is a section of road I ride for @ half a mile on my way home. It's a rural area but this particular road is pretty busy during the rush-hour evening time. If I rode the far right line, quite often cars would try to pass me while other oncoming vehicles were approaching at the same time on the other side. It was all just way too close for comfort and the dirt area has tons of glass. It's about the only place I "take the lane" on my commute, as fortunately the rest of the ride has very good bike lanes.
That is the point of lane positioning...to give the passing driver no doubt that he/she does NOT have room to pass you without crossing into the next lane either partially or fully. It does not prevent close passes...people who buzz you will do so wherever you are...but it does help prevent people from passing you when it is not safe to do so due to oncoming traffic...for the most part. (I think we've all met the jerks who try to pass anyway, trying to force either you or oncoming traffic out of his way - lane positioning can't cure stupid).
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