I'm speaking as someone who commuted on bike for decades, the last 15 or so on a twisty mountain road, Bankhead Parkway, for those familiar with the area. I always dodged rush hour, leaving after it in the AM and either leaving early or late for lunch. I usually drove in the afternoons. I see more and more bikers out driving at hours and places where I would not choose to ride. However, speaking to exactly where you place your bike on the road is a matter of conditions. Taking Bankhead Parkway as an example, there are places safe to pass and places profoundly unsafe to pass. Where it was unsafe, I always took the middle of the right lane. As soon as it was safe, I would move over and motion drivers by. To ride right next to the right stripe in an unsafe area is a fast way to get killed. That invites careless/ignorant/impatient drivers to try to squeeze by you in an unsafe area. In that situation, the only thing which will give is flesh and blood. Huntsville is more bike friendly than most towns. The mayor even leads an annual evening bike ride and there are rental bikes available throughout most of the central town area. Nevertheless, at every civic association meeting we have here on Monte Sano, it becomes evident that there are a large number of citizens who feel bikes have no right to be on the roads, period. This attitude is a big part of the problem...
