I'm usually all for riding on the road, avoiding the sidewalk, and being in the right tire track/taking the lane. And if I were to ride in the road there, I'd be 2-3 feet over from the gutter's edge somewhere around the right tire track. BUT, I must say, the sidewalk/path on the side does seem very inviting. Low density of pedestrians and basically no driveways, crossing streets, etc. for cars to be turning into or out of for quite a strecth. I'd probably give riding it up the next light a try personally...