Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Trucks, cars, and buses can all move sideways...they aren't on rails. Nor would they have to move very far sideways to, as you say, make a cyclist into the bologna in a car/truck sandwich.
Anyone with the training to obtain a commercial driver's license for a multi-axled vehicle isn't going to let the truck roll backwards enough to cause anyone behind them a problem unless you are touching the bumper. They couldn't pass the test otherwise.
I think a common theme here is that those who are splitting do so when there is a line of motionless vehicles thus making risk of sideway movement irrelevant. Anything that promotes efficient movement of people without increased risk is fine with me.