There is often glass, rocks, or other debris on the shoulder of the road which can damage tires or cause a loss of control of the bicycle. Automobiles sweep debris off the travel lane, and cyclists sometimes ride in or near the travel lane to ride on cleaner road. Parked cars represent a hazard, in that opening car doors can injure passing cyclists. Many cyclists choose to stay a car door width into the travel lane to avoid the door danger. Cyclists may choose to take up the whole travel lane in preparation for an upcoming left turn.
Cyclists sometimes ride in the travel lane when passing to the left side of slower vehicles.
Cyclists often take up the whole traffic lane when traveling at or close to the speed of other vehicles on the roadway. Cycling in the travel lane in each of these five cases is lawful under ORS 814.430. Generally, cyclists in the travel lane are not trying to irritate motorists, but simply riding in the safest possible fashion given the conditions at hand. Motorists approaching a cyclist from behind need to evaluate if it is safe to pass and if not slow down until it is safe to pass, like one would do when approaching a tractor or other slower moving vehicle from behind. Of course not.