BIKE: Safe?

[danceswithcars]

Hello.  It's been quite a while since I've posted.  I have a situation I'd 
like to run by you.

I used to commute to downtown Fort Worth, 25 miles round trip, daily.  My 
route was over an in-city state highway, four lane, with wide shoulders.  I 
rode mostly the shoulders on my Trek 520 and I never had any kind of 
problem concerning my personal safety.

I'm 62 yo and retired from my downtown job and I've now accepted a job 
driving a school bus.  The bus barn is 10 miles from my home.  The route is 
okay except for the last 2 miles.  This two mile stretch is on a two lane 
narrow road with absolutely non-existent shoulders and the posted speed 
limit is 40 MPH.  I fear there's not enough room for me to ride unless I 
take the lane, ie. make following traffic actually move over into the 
opposing lane to pass me.  I really want to commute by bicycle but I'm not 
sure I could do it safely.  Your opinion greatly appreciated.

Randall in Fort Worth, Texas