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I try to stay out of the way of the flow of traffic whenever possible, but I assert my right to take up a whole lane when things get narrow and/or unsafe. The greenways and bike paths that have begun to spring up are nice, but there are a number of "trouble spots" - where they are running parallel to a major road, but have to go across a curb cut or a minor road. 95% of these people coming out from these curb cuts ignore the bike pathand automatically pull right up to the intersection, rather than stopping at the stop sign like they're supposed to. People turning right on red do the same thing. That's why I wish right-on-red was illegal, or prohibited in more places. I can't count the number of times that I've almost been hit because of that. These people need to learn, and I hope that by almost hitting me they learned a lesson. At any rate, this danger makes me actually prefer riding in traffic because cars are more likely to notice you.
Let me take this chance to remind any one of you who may have forgotten: any place that there is a stop sign, you're required by law to stop [/i]AT OR BEFORE THE STOP SIGN[/i] to check for pedestrians before you approach the intersection. Same goes for turning right on red: STOP AT THE PAINTED LINE before you approach the intersection. Even at a curb cut coming out of a driveway, it's ILLEGAL to roll onto the sidewalk to check for oncoming cars before you've stopped to check for pedestrians. Seriously, stopping once before you approach the intersection takes all of 2 seconds. It could save a life, and save you from a lot of liability and even potential jail time.
And here's the kicker: it doesn't count if you don't do it at EVERY right-on-red and at EVERY stop sign. Even if the road doesn't have a sidewalk, you never know when there might be a bicycle riding in the shoulder or a person walking on the grass next to the road. Even on that road that you drive on EVERY DAY going to work, where you've never, ever seen a bicycle or a pedestrian. Even when turning right onto an 8-lane thoroughfare that you couldn't possibly fathom a bicycle or pedestrian using. You never know when someone in the neighborhood might be trying to commute via bike for the first time, or someone (like me!) might be out pedaling around a new neighborhood.
Yes, some people might miss their "spot" in traffic, but I don't feel sorry for them at all. Anyone who finds it too inconvenient to wait 2 seconds needs to surrender their drivers license before they hurt or kill someone in their haste, and start seeing a stress therapist to get their issues resolved.
Edited by orulz, 29 April 2005 - 03:04 PM.
Rest assured a courteous bike rider will be aware of a heavy vehicle behind them and when they have enough space to move over they will signal to pass. 
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