Sometimes it is the better choice of several less than perfect options in urban areas with dense traffic, especially when the traffic lanes are narrow and motorized traffic moves briskly whenever possible. Or conversely when the traffic is harldy moving at all, the fast guys won't be so g-d fast when they are standing still "cycling in the lane," and will be tailgated at speed at all times when traffic does move.

The A&S doomsayers who predict the imminent demise of anyone who dares to cycle in the dreaded door zone are whistling dixie to the great majority of cyclists who manage to handle this task without incident, day in and day out. The same doomsayers castigate painted lines that serve the purpose, if nothing else, to deter some motorists from riding too close to the zone where cyclists WILL be riding, despite what some A&S experts think is best for them.