I've got to chime in and say that the solution to "most of the drivers are assholes and will try to kill you" is to be even more of a pain. I ride in pretty hea

I've got to chime in and say that the solution to "most of the drivers are assholes and will try to kill you" is to be even more of a pain. I ride in pretty heavy traffic, and if it's not safe to share the lane, I get in the way. It takes a really stupid motorist to drive into oncoming traffic trying to get around. I think most cyclists are afraid of taking up too much space, because they think cars will act aggressively: the fact is, if you're right in the middle of a lane they don't have much choice (unless they literally are murderous). Compromising and lane sharing is much more dangerous, because cars aren't aware of you and cut you off, try to overtake when the road isn't wide enough, etc. The epitome of this is our new 'divided bike lanes', where they stick a curb between you and the car. This has all sorts of features: - cars completely ignore you and cut you off by turning right without looking. I've already been broad-sided once this year. - you can't safely overtake other cyclists without cutting out into the roadway (where nobody is watching for you) - pedestrians treat it as extra pavement and stand right in the bleeding way As for riding on the pavement, IMO it's never OK on any bike. At least in Ontario (Canada), if a vehicle has brakes it belongs on the street, if it doesn't it goes on the pavement. They could technically ticket people for riding on the sidewalk, but the whole culture that treats riding on the road as needlessly dangerous lets them get away with it.