BIKE: Safety Question

[kfrank1]

Hello,

I recently bought a bike and started commuting to work and have a question about safety in the following situation which I haven't seen addressed anywhere yet. I am currently reading the 'Effective Cycling' book, and have also read the safety advice on the internet including this site.

If you are on a four lane road (two lanes in each direction) and both lanes are backed up with stop & start traffic, which lane is it safest to pass, on the inside lane between the car and curb, or in between the cars, assuming there is sufficient space in both cases for the cyclist to pass? (I have seen cyclists do both)

In my opinion both are probably unsafe because no-one is expecting people to pass them in conjested traffic. In the first case you risk being hit by a opening door of a parked car or  cars deciding to suddenly pull out or pull into a parking space or driveway. In the second case you risk cars suddenly deciding to change lanes to go into a 'faster' lane.

By the way am writing from New Zealand but am sure this applies to cyclists anywhere.

Thanks
Ken