Different Strokes For Different Yokes

I notice a huge difference in the space drivers give me when I'm riding a loaded touring bike as opposed to a more "normal" road bike or brief road sections on the mountain bike. I'm pretty sure this is due to their perception of how wide I am with my bright orange panniers.

I notice this with my trailer too, my theories is that the wheel at the back give the driver an idea of how wide a bicycle is, whether a single wheel give them the illusion that bicycle take up a lots less space without factoring the size of the person on the bicycle.

To the drivers, seeing a wheel on each end usually make them overtake me as if I am a four wheels vehicles (which I am) and more tolerance of me taking the lane (ditto to my tourer too),

It's nice to see that they actually overtake me properly as the highway code stated (overtake as you would a car).