I'm not siding with anyone on this. It all depends on where you live and the traffic situations you encounter. Around here, on certain roads, just trying to ride IN a lane is more hazardous than even thinking about "splitting" one.
We have a highway here known as the "Parkway" that makes a Nascar race look like a kiddieland ride in an amusement park. Cagers will look at you in stopped traffic, decide you don't count, then try to occupy your space in your lane as soon as there's 6 feet of movement ahead. The posted speed is 55, if you ain't doing 70 you're flirting with disaster. And you better have your slalom skills honed to perfection.
I have done some involuntary "lane splitting" on that road. It's a matter of self - preservation.
If you can do it legally and other traffic is aware of it - more power to you.
But it doesn't work everywhere....
