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I use the farthest left hand lane, and then usually try to move at a reasonable pace considering what the other traffic is doing. Staying in the left hand lane allows me to ride where I know I can be seen in car mirrors, the right side of the left hand lane, and means I only need to watch for cars coming from my right. The center lane IMHO would be the most dangerous because you end up in either the left or right hand lanes blind spot. And the right hand lane you have to watch for merging cars and cars trying to get over to exit.
I've been commuting for 4 years now. I keep my thumb on the horn button at all time when in traffic. An immediate blast of the horn will usually stop most interlopers.
if i had to choose one lane it would be the left lane,,,,, im a truck driver and i use it as much as possible to avoid people merging inand out, but always be aware of fast changing conditions... and no i dont slow traffic up be safe
I think commuting and traveling long distance are different yet the same. I just came back from a small trip that was about 650 miles of interstate and 100 miles of lesser popular roads. However when you are traveling and pass through one of the many cities that your interstate winds thru you're inadvertantly put in a commuters mode. As you pass thru the large cities that all interstates eventually wind through, the traffic increases as do the psycho 4 wheel drivers. The 18 wheelers are on a mission too but I find them to be much more courteous over all. I hated when they would blow by me and I didn't know they were coming. Sends a freaken chill up my back as the are maybe only 1-2 feetto my left. And then there is you.
Because I am still in a learning mode with my sidecar bike I tended to stay in the far right lane accept when anticipating on loading ramps or dangerously slower drivers(although I stayed around 60MPH myself most of the time).
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The June issue ofAmerican Iron magazine has an article on page 30 by Don Gomo regarding which part of the lane to be in. Worth reading. Pretty much if you took the MSF class remember to SEE Search Evaluate and Execute, any lane can be the best lane depending on the situation.
I stay in the left lane in heavy traffic (HOV lane here in AZ) so that way, I only have really worry about a few dumbasses cutting me off rather than several other cars in the center lane that could cut me off from either side of me...
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