[dcstrng]

Liked that article on rush-hour (well slow-hour) traffic... Super !! but the concern about cars darting in front when you leave any useable cushion is a very real concern -- especially in larger metro areas... frankly, if you do that in the DC area, you will be cut-off fairly regularly – probably several times in just one evening or morning commute... what I’ve found that has a similar effect is to get behind one of the 18-wheelers...

Pick an experienced looking driver (which may mean staying way from the national fleet haulers that often have a very high percentage of rookies...) and tag along fairly closely... When they’re hauling 30-tons of steel, they aren’t inclined to do a lot of unpredictable lane-changing and/or stopping and starting and although cages may pull in front of the 18-wheeler, I’ve been able to snug up close enough to these slow-movers so that cars usually won’t intrude and I’ll be moving (generally) fast enough to keep my feet on the boards...

No, following closely behind an 18-wheeler isn’t for everybody (and one must still stay vigilant even at slow speeds), nor is it a particularly safe tactic at highway speeds, but I’ve found it cuts down considerable on the rush-hour paddle-footing... Frankly I find rush-hour commuting to be a high mental-load condition and given my increasing geriatric circumstance am always looking for ways to reduce the cerebral gymnastics, wherever possible...