I think it all comes down to responding to particular situations, including local laws. Whether I take a lane or not depends on a lot of things, such as how fast the cars may be going, the type of neighborhood I am in (do I anticipate motorists to be aware of bike traffic,lighting conditions, even trees, that I think I may blend in with along the side of the road. the condition of the pavement. If there is junk, I will move over a little to the left so I can get some wiggle room, if it is a wide enough for me to do so. If I need to swerve to miss something, Idon't want to turn to the left INTO traffic. At some point, a car cannot safely pass anyway, so then I will move to the center for visibility. I continually think of what a car coming of from behind may be seeing, or rather NOT seeing.

In my mind these all factor into what is a practical right side position, including being in the leftmost lane when executing a left hand turn! I wish to know the law better, so I can follow it better.

But I know that there will be situations where I break the law, such as stopping at every stop sign in a city residential area, when I can see that no cars are approaching. By the time I got going again, a car would be coming, and I'd be in the middle of crossing when he got to the intersection! But this is on roads with a speed limit of 20 mph, with stop signs every two blocks.

Mary