Scott en Aztl‡n
You buttume bicyclists are always slow and that this is justification enough to confine them to the crappiest portion of the road. It seems to me that motorists admit they are incompetent drivers if they can't adequately overtake narrow and slow bicyclists. Or blame the road for not being wide enough. But don't blame slow road users for your incompetence.
What makes you think that you know where I should ride and what my needs are?
Why shouldn't a vehicle operator have the same width requirements as other vehicle operators? A narrow motorcyclist enjoys a large buffer from other vehicle operators when fully using a lane, but you and other motorists think that it is adequate to confine bicycle drivers to 4 ft at the side of the road. You marginalize bicycle drivers.
When I ride my bike in a 12 ft lane (or any other typical width), I choose my lateral position based on situational context. But the lane is "mine." I have a superior right to occupy that lane space with a buffer in front and behind. When a bike lane is placed, the government has decided for me where to position myself. And it is often wrong.
Most of the time bicyclists ride at the right side of the lane and are OK with allowing motorists to use it for overtaking. But it is not arrogant for a bicyclist to fully use what he is enbreastled to.
Wayne
