If you’re a savvy cyclist, you’re not shy about claiming your space on the road.

You know about all of the difficulties you can get into when you cling to the edge, and how much more practical bicycle transportation becomes when you use the technique of lane control.

Has anyone ever told you that you’re being unreasonable by controlling a lane?

Have they told you that it exposes you to dangerous motorist behavior?

Have they told you that you’re unnecessarily inconveniencing motorists?

I certainly hear those things. But it only takes a little bit of observation to see that motorist behavior around you is consistently safer and more cautious when you control the lane.

Here’s my video response to one such critic:

In the video, I ride the same stretch of road twice, once at the edge of the lane and once in the center of the lane. These rides are shown simultaneously in the video, with each pass highlighted.

In the center of the lane, all passes are safe. At the edge, about half of the passes are unsafe, because the motorist comes too close to me, too close to oncoming traffic, or both.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re being unreasonable by controlling the lane.

Show them this video, or make your own to show the benefits of lane control on your local roads. I’d be happy to share my filming and editing techniques with you. Just ask.