I actually just rode in a 'real' city this past weekend. I was with Susan O (of all people) and I noticed that she was really good and yelling loudly when cars weren't paying attention. We were there on a weekend when there was definitely less traffic, but it wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be.

That said, I've noticed a definite decline in my 'near misses' as time goes on. I used to commute in a medium sized city (some areas were definitely urban) and I almost got hit a LOT. I mean, there was one situtation where this woman came to a stop just inches from my knees (she was turning into me). I could pat her car with my hand with only barely a lean forward...that's how close it was. Ugh. Anyway, now half my commute is in a medium sized city with some urban areas. I do like LPH, and I assume they don't see me. I also am MUCH more likely to take the lane. I've always done it in slow moving traffic, but now I even do it when it's not so slow but I still feel it's in my best interest.

In fact, just last night, I was at a light, I had a bike lane, and I was going straight. The woman in the right turn lane was stopped for the red light, but she was watching for an opening. She was also talking on the phone. She didn't get her opening, so when the light turned green, she went...without looking. Both myself and the pedestrian had seen her ahead of time and neither of us moved until she was gone. She never even looked and didn't know how close she had come to manslaughter. We'd both be smooshed if we had started across the intersection as we had the right to do. The car behind her waved us both on.

Eye contact, waving, yelling...make yourself visible. If you can't (like with this chick) assume that they won't see you and do what you need to do to stay safe.