Biking etiquette in the city?

[kiki]

I have never really ridden a bike on the streets before, so I'm finding it really intimidating to be on my bike when there are cars and buses whizzing by me. When biking on the street, am I supposed to stay as close to the right as possible, or can I bike in the middle of the rightmost lane, or even in the middle of a center or left lane? I feel like I am holding up traffic when I bike in the middle of the lane, but when I am biking on the right side of the road and sharing a lane with a car or bus, it feels really narrow, like there's not enough space for the two of us without the vehicle having to get out of my way or run me over. When stopping my bike at a traffic signal, can I stay in the middle of the lane, or should I stay close to the right side of the lane to get out of the vehicle's way? What about weaving in and out of traffic... can I ride my bike on the dividing lane stripe between lanes of cars, both when they're moving and when they're stopped at a traffic light?

Thanks!

[Skeptic]

I don't know about other cities, but in Seattle, the law is a bit generous. It's up to the bicyclist to decide how far over is safe. If it is your opinion that the middle of the road is safest, then that's your call. We do have laws that suggest that the bicyclist should be as far to the right as is safe.

By the way, I'm almost always on the sidewalk in the city. I don't trust that car doors will not open in front of me, or that someone might be distracted and hit me driving straight ahead or on turns. However, riding on the side walk requires that you pay very careful attention to cars coming out of drive ways.

Good luck and be very careful out there.

[Gen loves lindy hop]

Stay to the right - you are holding up traffic but it's the safest place for you - you can get into peoples' blind spots otherwise and they might change lanes without seeing you.
Make sure you are a good enough rider that your wheels don't wobble and that you can stay pretty close to the curb