It is interesting that you mention the very left edge of the bicycle lane. There may be a legitimate reason for riding there.
OK - I think I am still educable. So, if "there may be a legitimate reason for riding there" - thus exposing the bicyclist to harm by my vehicle and exposing a legitimate vehicle driver to danger and a possible accident responsibility (and citation or lawsuit), what "might" that "legitimate" reason be?
On St Charles street in New Orleans the bike lane is almost completely within the door zone of parked cars. Cyclist are regularly hurt and killed by doors swinging open in their path. Smart cyclists who ride in that bike lane will hug the outer left edge. While the driving lane is narrow, I still have room to move far left in the driving lane to give the cyclists a little extra measure of comfort.
Thanks - good explanation of a particular in-town situation where the old streets are narrow and there is motor parking to the right of the bike lane. I would not ride a bike in those conditions and, probably never will go to NO again, let alone haul my bike to that place. My comment about idiot bike riders pushing to the left edge of their lane (and over it) has to do with the open road situations where we encounter most biking.
