I've been commuting in Oklahoma City for 7 months now, and I've been riding just right of center in the lane on our 4 lane streets. On our 2 lane streets I ride close to the right of the lane to let cars by becasue I'm not trying to prove anything, and also those lanes tend to be big enough for a car and a bike. But on the 4 lane roads, especially those with a turn lane in the middle I always take the lane because of dirt and debris, sewer drains with metal grates as wider than my tires, and of course curbs, which terrify me the most.

I've had plenty of people in cars honk etc...but today was different.

So as always I was to the right of the center of my lane; in the right rut where a car tire would be. and behind me there's someone close, then they're to my left in the left lane, and while moving the driver tells me "You need to ride as close as possible to the right as you can. I'm a cyclist. I know.", and he drives on...

He indeed was wearing one of those tight cycling shirts with advertisments etc on it... ...but I have to say I completely disagree with him. I've ridden as far as I can and it's so much more dangerous for the reasons mentioned above, but most of all, when you're riding far to the right people in cars seem to become much more adventurous and feel like as in a video game they can zoom by me without changing the lane etc... I think that cyclist or not, he was just angry that I was in his way.

So in this city of no bike lanes and very little awareness of bicycling as commuting...what do you think? I mean I'm already pretty sure I'm going to stay riding where I do, but maybe it's more dangerous than I thought? Perhaps a car's going to smash me from behind and it's worth risking pedal strike on the curb, flipping forward when my tire goes in the gutter drain grate, and always riding over glass, pebbles and sand?

still I'm not dejected. I love riding my bike around this hellish city. I'll just take the lane as always and come what may.