Originally Posted by David in PA
I literally signal to them that I AM HERE, up ahead of them. To do this, I simply arc far out into the road and back to the shoulder, and then repeat the process. My movement almost surely catches their eye, and I feel a bit safer.
You should always ride say a meter out into the road anyway (more or less, depending on if cars are parked alongside, width of road). If you hug the shoulder you're more likely to be unseen and also being far out forces people to pass you or stops them from squeezing by when the road narrows.
If you have the chance to take a good cycling course, do it. It's helped me greatly cycling in London. Amazing how much better you're treated by cars when you know how to signal properly, where to ride in the road!