Originally Posted by
Leisesturm
If there isn't a bike lane or striped off area of shoulder on a road then you are taking the lane just by being in it. How I wonder is moving further into the traffic stream going to make a person feel SAFER when the cars that pass them will now be displaying all manner of hostility to express their outrage at the road being blocked unecessarily?
When forced to ride in traffic due to lack of alternative infrastructure, moving further in the lane is still useful.
1 - Distance from parked cars. If there are parked cars on your route riding too close to the right is hazardous. You should be an absolute minimum of 4 ft out lest a door open.
2 - Maneuvering room. If an emergency situation arises, you want to be able to safely move in either direction, creating more opportunities to deal with the emergency safely.
3 - Implied passing distance. If there is
just enough room for a car to squeeze by in the same lane, they'll do it. Being further into the lane makes it clear that a safe pass requires a lane change, and driver behaviour changes accordingly.
In addition to being safe, this behaviour is legal in 'As far right as practicable' jurisdictions, which is the norm in North America. Practicable means safe.
Nothing in my experience suggests that angry drivers will be less angry when riders are taking extra risks to accommodate motor traffic's whims. However, the vast majority of drivers who are not angry, but are also not up to speed on how to safely share the road, can be encouraged to make the right choices through appropriate lane positioning.
The biggest problems I have with drivers are a result of poor or poorly explained "bike" infrastructure. Every driver who's yelled at me has done so in one of the following situations:
a) I'm riding on a road with traffic when there is a counter-flow lane available (for cyclists going the other way.)
b) I'm riding on a road with traffic when there is a door zone lane less than 4 feet out from parked cars (these are hazardous and should never be used.)
c) I'm riding on a signposted or sharrow bike route with parked cars and only one lane in each direction.
Roads with multiple lanes have never been a problem...motorists just pass merrily by.