This is a study of motorist passing behavior as it relates to cyclist lane position, on a multi-lane roadway with narrow outside lanes. The results:
Riding near the gutter: multiple close in-lane passes, multiple straddle-lane passes, and multiple full lane change passes.
Riding in the right tire track: Fewer in-lane and straddle passes, more lane change passes.
Riding centered in the lane: ALL lane-change passes, and ZERO close or straddle passes.
This mirrors my long-term experience almost exactly. I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing, because I want more lane change passes, and fewer (or none is preferred) close passes.
http://www.iamtraffic.org/wp-content...ngDistance.pdf