I know one of most frightening things for a new commuter is riding in the middle of the lane. let me assure you that is probably the safest place you can be when given the option of curb riding or taking the lane.

Here is my anecdotal proof:

I was riding along a 2 lane stretch, both ways. As the road lays I was not able to be exactly in the middle of the right lane and I got buzzed by a car. That annoyed me. Oddly enough the light in front of us changed red and I decided to filter to the front of the line, I don't normally do this but today I decided to and for good reason.

After the light turned green I proceeded on the right of traffic, there is a shoulder here. The shoulder now starts to collapse into the lane. I make my way over to merge with the cars and who is behind me? Yup. The gal that decided to buzz me. I made sure to stake my claim in the middle of the lane. She then had to wait until the traffic on the left had cleared where she moved ALL THE WAY into the adjacent lane and passed me safely. I even said to myself, "Let's see if we can do this right this time." as if I were talking to her.

Funny how a few feet in the lane makes a difference in how a motorist treats you. She she passed she didn't seem upset. It seemed like she now realized I was taking the lane and she was not going to try to squirt by.

I might add that she was on her cell phone so....

Anyway, just my tidbit of experience to share with new commuters.

This is especially true on a narrow lane where traffic is moving quickly.

But a lot depends on the street. I have been on wider streets where there was adequate room for car and bicycle. Taking the lane in this instance seemed unnecessary.

But you can judge for yourself. If you experience a lot of buzzing on a street, you can take the entire lane. That would be the best thing to do.

Good advice, except that taking the lane shouldn't mean necessarily taking the middle of the lane - we have to keep our eyes open for oily greasy cage droppings, especially at lights and stop signs. As close to the center as possible to keep the car in check, but watching for oil. I use the driver's side of the lane, closer to the center.

People would kill you if u rode ya bike in the middle of lane in this town.These people hate bikers.They love there 7 mpg trucks

Ya, sorry. Didn't mean middle. I tend to ride in the left side of the lane as if I were the driver of a car. My logic is that if I can make myself as wide as a car the I will and putting myself on the far left effectively makes me a car in that it is harder to try to squeeze by.

If there is room for a car and bike to pass safely then by all means stay right but if the lane is tight then make yourself as wide as possible.

What town is that wind? What do you do if the lane is not wide enough for you and a car?

i ride in the gutter almost right on the white line on are streets the roads have gutter to the right of the line well maybe not gutter jst messed up area of the road

Taking the lane when there is room for both a car and cyclist is not just unnecessary but rude. A cyclist should share the lane where possible, just as the motorists should respect the cyclist's right to the lane when it cannot be shared.

What is your bailout plan if a car gets too close while passing you? What if you hit your pedal on the curb as a car is passing closely and you fall? Is thereno other lane that passing cars can use to pass on your left? Is there another safer route you can take that would allow you to take the lane so others could pass on another lane to the left?

Better then geting them mad and they hit ya because they feel i shouldn't be on the road

Think of it this way...is someone going to get so mad while driving that they have to slow down a bit and wait for an opportunity to pass you that they'd rather just run you over and ruin their own life? It's in everyone's interest to stay out of accidents, so just make yourself visible, follow the rules of the road, and nobody will hit you, windhchaser. ;-)

Where do you live?

North ga

Wind, that explains a lot; I lived in Gwinnett Co. for three years, and I have NEVER encountered such idiocy. And that was BEFORE I started riding again!

Yes agree... it would be a bit rude to grab the center. However, depending on traffic speed and the exact width of the lane, it might also be the only possibility.

A commuter needs to know traffic conditions on her/his routes and act accordingly. Where possible I will share or I will sometimes stay in the center until traffic has slowed behind me, then pull over to the right.

But there's no rule here. It depends totally on the route.

+1. That's exactly my rationale.

+1

Some examples

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU4nK...eature=related

I've seen this video several times, I still like to see the raw footage of their rides, plus I like to see how a slower solo rider, riding the same routes, is treated by motorists.

True. What I both like/dislike about riding in lanes with traffic is I feel behooved to ride faster. That said I look for alternate routes with less traffic when possible. Or even ride on the sidewalk for a little ways sometimes.

Yeah, especially when I had that semi truck tailing me last night.

The video demonstrates some basic principles, but you need to be much more flexible and creative riding on DC streets during rush hour. Complete mayhem compared to that serene environment.

Don't unnecessarily tempt psychopaths and hotheads. Take the lane when you have to, but be courteous and give way when possible

I could be wrong but that looks like my neck of the woods. Long Beach/Belmont Shore/Naples area.

I'm in Noo Joizy where we EARN our reputation for some of the worst driving in the US. It's not just a vicious rumor.

The more I drive my bike "vehicularly" the more respect I get from motorists. They give me very little trouble nowadays, and I ride some tricky roads.