I always take the lane on larger roads. My husband, on the other hand, commutes on a 2 lane busy road (Rt 27 to you NE ladies) and is the one you see passing all of the cars on the right when they are stopped at a light. He is safe, but I think this is an undue risk, esp. at rush hour. He does not run red lights or stop signs; how horrible for a ride leader to do this.
Yesterday we were on a ride on our after work loop. it was rush hour and we were coming into the small rotary (traffic circle) in Carlisle. Now this is a rural town, but as one guy was approaching from a street ahead on our right, to make a right on the main road, we came into the rotary, to travel around, get on the main road, and make an immediate left. On coming cars have a stop sign where we make the left, so once you get into the rotary, it's usually safe. Well, this guy was stopped, but just sort of went as Steve was going by him. Steve yelled SO loud, that all of the people in the other cars certainly heard. I think the guy did, too, because he sped away as we caught up to him. Plus, there was another cyclist ahead of us, who scooted onto the other side of the rotary, to get onto the street where we make a left. So, she was going the WRONG way in a very dangerous spot. I guess she thought the cars stopped at the sign would wait, but it made me want to scream.