I'm more with KSH on this argument. I much prefer to act like a vehicle and am allowed to. Many places in the city I can ride at or near the the speed of traffic and much prefer to assert my right to be on the road. It is unpleasant to have a car squeeze by when they could wait for a few seconds or use the other lane on a two lane road (and in fact illegal for them to do - they are supposed to leave us 3 to 5 feet! of space when passing in this state). Even if the road has a shoulder and you are riding to the right of the white line drivers should still be giving you a lot of space, which they usually do not. Plus, the shoulders are often filled with potholes and debris and bike lanes are often dangerous - being directly in the door zone of parked cars. We have the choice of deciding where we ride and we ride where we feel safest. Does it mean that we are intentionally snotty and blocking traffic all of the time - of course not. We generally ride single file and as far right as is safe, but there are certainly many situations that we use the rights that we have. I'm pretty sure I've never had a 5 car backup behind me - which is the point at which no matter what type of slow vehicle you are operating, horse buggy, bike, RV, whatever, you are supposed to pull over to let the backup pass.


RCW 46.61.770
Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.


(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited-access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists.

(2) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.