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Comment by matsemann | Hacker News Reader

> You'll regularly get harassed for riding in the street, even when you're all the way to the right

I don't even understand the hate for riding in the middle. If a driver were to pass someone riding on the right, he would (should) have to move so far over that the next lane has to be empty. That is the same as if the bicyclist was in the middle.

Riding to the right only invites cars to squeeze past. Take the lane, it's safer.

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Roadways are usually wide enough that a car can pass through the middle, leaving plenty of space for a cyclist on the right, and still avoid colliding with an oncoming car if that oncoming car moves to the right of its lane.

Of course, even though the above is possible, drivers often don't leave enough space for cyclists, so cyclists should ride in the middle to force cars to not try to squeeze past.

Yeah, the problem is just that when it's space, the zoom by in a high speed. Taking the lane and then yielding will force them to overtake at a reasonable speed, at least.

Take the lane, but be aware of cars following. When they can't safely pass for a few minutes look for a long stretch where you can get out of their way.

What you can do is to wait when traffic is clear in the oncoming lane and move slightly over to the right and wave them by. When you see oncoming traffic, check your mirror, stick your left arm out, verify that the following vehicle is yielding to you and retake the lane.

This then ensures that cars pass you at a relatively low speed difference and you generally control when they pass you.

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