Take the Lane!!!

[SouthernBelle]

I find whipping out a saber and yelling "YAAARRRRRR!!! I'm GA'IN TA BARRRD YAR LANE!!!! AVAST, YE SCURVY RATS!!!!"

Well...
less the saber.
...and the pirate speak.
...actually, I just signal...
but doesn't that just grab more attention and sound like WAY more fun??!

Yep. But bull bellowing is fun too.

[Geonz]

I will often wait in the queue at a stop light, but it's a judgement call. There will be people whose views I respect who would consider flamethrowing... but around here, generally there are 2-3 cars in the queue... often more on the other side, some of whom are going to be taking lefts. Oh, and usually one of the ones in my queue are making lefts - there's no dedicated left hand turn.

So, I scoot to teh front where the cars on both sides can see me, and right-turners can get by behind me. If the cars in the queue are going straight, they're all by me by the time I'm across; if they're going left, I'm across and have my lane position and I'm past the opposing-direction queue before soembody would even want to squeezy by me, so they can pass me safely instead.

This is totally intersection-specific. When in doubt - or at a new intersection - I'm a vehicle. I'm in the queue. Even then, though, there's the issue of driver who expects me to be in the shoulder (or to pull to the front), so they pull along beside me. Usually I still stick to that spot, because one of my Primary Principles is "don't make 'em pass me twice."

(I've most recently bellowed at wild turkeys. The drivers have been mostly okay.)

[li10up]

These aren't hard and fast "rules," just general guidelines that improve safety and promote a healthy "share the road" attitude with motorists. By all means move ahead of vehicles if you are just going to have to sit through 2 or 3 lights. I was just pointing out that we should try to make an effort not to slow the motor traffic down unnecessarily. So I agree with Geonz...use your judgment.

Any new riders finding out that these suggestions have helped them navigate the traffic better?

Once I figured out this stuff it was much easier for me and I felt more confident. I still try to stick to the roads less traveled though. Makes for a more enjoyable ride...and the scenery is better too.

[Batbike]

good thread! yes yes yes ... take the lane!!!!!!!!!!!

Personally, I would rather be obnoxious and visual than get hit by someone who didn't see me. If it is rude to the car driver, than it is probably good for me (especially when at a traffic light or intersection!).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Right. And, like Kit, if the traffic is bad and the intersection is particularly tricky, I don't hesitate at all sometimes to just hop off my bike and walk across the crosswalk as a pedestrian. Better to be safe.