My Dad's a pretty smart guy, an opinion we both share (
), and one thing he taught me when I was learning to drive has stuck with me ever since; right-of-way is something you give, not take. I know that won't sit well with the more assertive folks out there, but think about it for a second. There's really no way to effectively claim the right-of-way without physically putting yourself in harm's way if the other driver is not yielding. You might be able to get their attention enough to avoid an accident, and they might even eventually understand, but there's also a possibility that some high-energy street theater is in your future with you starring as the roadkill. Bottom line -- it doesn't matter if we're right if they don't yield or slow down because tonnage prevails in bicycle vs. car/truck/van/bus confrontations.