Originally Posted by
Grim
You are far safer in the street then you are on side walks and especially cross walks. More cyclist get hit in cross walks and drive entrances then on the road.
This is an extremely important point. You should never ride on the sidewalk, especially in high traffic areas. Look here (
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm) for an excellent online guide to safe riding in the street with other vehicles. For you, I would particularly recommend chapters 2-6.
And whatever you do,
do not ride on the sidewalk.