Take the lane?

Always bike about a meter from the curb/parked cars, to give yourself wiggle room, and to prevent doors from opening and taking you down. Cars see you when your a meter or so from the curb, as your at about the 1/3rd to 1/2th of the lane.

Take my commute today, a car had to go into the left lane to pass me, however when they got up ahead they nearly squeezed the heck out of the biker a couple hundred yards in front of me, who was hugging the curb ask they biked.

Lights and reflectors on a bike do not make you noticeable, taking the lane does. Generally advisable to take the lane from a further distance then you need to, to make sure they cannot miss you before you come up to the stop. Especially at intersections.

Jim