Im not necessarily saying it makes you safer in all circumstances, but it most certainly makes you more predictable if the law says you can. Then people will expect it. Obviously it should not be done to cause others to stop when they have right of way.

I find that cycle lanes do more harm than good, I don't like to ride right by the curb where there is road debris and drain covers and more often than not huge puddles. It makes drivers think you belong only in that second of the road. More money needs to be spent on changing the laws and educating cyclists and drivers instead of "gentrification" of the roads to show that you are doing something, when actually you are not.