I tried an experiment this week. On my commute, I intentionally rode slowly. Instead of pushing myself and riding hard, I just noodled along. Where I usually ride 20 mph, I rode 12-15 mph; where I usually push myself at 25 mph and up, I rode 15-18 mph.

As I expected, I got to where I was going just fine, in not that much longer a time, and without sweating or straining at all. The effort level was not much more than walking.

What I didn't expect was that I felt unsafe. Less safe, anyway.

When I was riding in the traffic lanes, cars pushed by me, leaving me less room than usual. This is on city streets without bike lanes, where cars are typically going 25-35 mph. I normally have no or minimal issues there; now it seemed like mirrors were passing way too close to me quite often.

So I have formed a theory that on that sort of city street, "the faster you ride, the safer you are." Maybe drivers treat you better if the relative speed between you and them is not too much, because you're acting like a slow car (or moped). Or, maybe it is because they feel like you're at least trying to keep up with their flow. Or, because they think a cyclist riding fast is less predictable so they better give you a wider berth. I'm not sure of the reason(s).

What do you think? Is that true, or not, where you ride?

(For Portlanders, my riding during this experiment was on NE Sandy, NE Broadway, E Burnside, SE Hawthorne, NE 20th and 28th.)