[Lazarus]

I think folks have summed it up pretty nicely. The key IMO is ride defensively. Hugging the curb only opens you up to people trying to squeeze by when there is no room. If you have to make an evasive maneuver, due to road debris or holes etc, you have no where to go. The tighter the lane the more of it you should take.

I also disagree with the not passing on the right. Cars will always be passing you. This morning traffic was backed up 2 miles. I passed cars that I never saw again. So there were some drivers I did not have to deal with. Bikes have the right to share the road.

In general I ride like I would want bikes to do if I was in a car. I don't blow through lights, weave in and out of moving traffic, hop from sidewalks to road and vice versa. Safety is number one so if you need to take the whole lane then take it. Plan your route to make it as bike friendly, even if it's a longer route, as possible and be respectful of traffic but don't let them push you around. Alway expect a car to turn in front of you, especially if you are coming up on a right hand turn, or run a red light.

On more thing that I always do that seem to help is I alway make eye contact with any threat. The car on the side street or the car that is stopped to turn in front of me.