> If bicyclists were capable of zipping around at speeds of +40 mph, compared to car traffic, I would have fewer problems with making them share the road with c

> If bicyclists were capable of zipping around at speeds of +40 mph, compared to car traffic, I would have fewer problems with making them share the road with cars. Why would cyclists have to move at 40+ mph on streets where traffic moves at 20 to 30 mph? Even so, traffic is capable of dealing with larger speed differentials due to intersections and steep grades, so there really is no requirement for cyclists to be able to keep up with traffic in order to ride within the general purpose traffic lane. > Many accidents currently occur because most cyclists aren't able to pedal fast enough to ride the center of a lane Do you have a citation for this claim? As a counter example, I've been riding in the center of the general purpose lane for a number of years and have never come close to getting rear ended (on roads where traffic goes between 30 to 50 mph). > are often passed with a great speed differential, but only inches of clearance... The reason they get passed with inches of clearance is that a cyclist who is edge riding gives motorists the impression that there is sufficient room to pass within the lane. A cyclist who rides in the center of the general traffic lane basically sends the message that faster traffic must change lanes to pass. Hence, they get a lot more clearance when they're passed by faster traffic.