Originally Posted by
PatrickGSR94
Controlling the lane is not about being in anyone's way. It's about maintaining safety, which is top priority. By riding lane center by default, and not weaving back and forth, I'm being more predictable and visible to motorists behind me. And to me that is more courteous than some ill-conceived notion about not "being in the way" or motorists' convenience. Safety trumps convenience ALWAYS.
What it's about depends on who's talking about "controlling the lane". Some people are pretty up-front that what they mean is "controlling traffic", and the only way a bike does that in a lane is by being in their way. Catch and release, same thing. I don't even use the phrase because it means different things to different people.
I have nothing against taking the lane, by which I mean moving left when we have to. "When we have to" is shorthand for the exceptions in FRAP law, which are: too narrow lane, and obstructions on the right. When I have cars passing too close, in the same lane, that automatically means that the lane is too narrow and I'll then "control the lane" in the sense that you mean it. It does inhibit the close passes.