Let’s review. Bicyclists should ride on the road, not the
sidewalk. Bicyclists should ride on the right like cars, not the
left like pedestrians. Bicyclists should ride at least an arm’s
length from the edge of the road, not hugging the edge. An arm’s
length from the edge is the minimum distance, and it is often
appropriate and advisable to ride more than an arm’s length from
the edge of the road. To take the lane, ride in the center or
just to the right of center, about where your right tire would
be if you were in a car. When the lane is too narrow to share
side-by-side with a car, taking the lane encourages drivers to
make full use of the left lane (when it is clear) to pass you.
This is counter intuitive. After all, if the lane is narrow,
shouldn’t we hug the edge so that cars have room to get past?
The problem with that approach is that cars will try to squeeze
past when there isn’t really enough room to do so. A motorist
might come so close as to knock you over or the wind of the
passing car will throw