I was talking nicely to a girl in a pub the other day and she was saying how nice most on her commute are. She isn't the fastest and most confident so is terrified of queuing up behind all teh other commuters so always shuffles to the front out of harms way.
There, as she has been told and always used to see when driving, the cyclist (her) is not alongside or 'within' traffic and can safely pull away on here own as soon as safe to do so.
She just wishes that she had the chance to chat and thank all the other commuters for understanding her actions but she is normally out of breath trying her best not to hold others up too much as she commutes to work trying to get fitter.
A seasoned cyclist did tell her once how it is always safer to be out front away from the cars and that is the reason for ASL etc - simple really!
ANyway, hopefully you get my point?