Originally Posted by
Zrane
I do not live in a bike friendly city. It may even be classified as bike-hostile. The solution to your problem is don't take the main roads. I ride a residential street most of the way, and just cross the main roads.
+1 from another bike-hostile city in the American SW. Agree with: scout the route, take residential streets, learn the road surfaces of your route, use parking lots or shortcuts if they help you avoid bad turns & intersections, stay off the sidewalk: it's dangerous & frustrating even where it's not illegal. Be safe and build your skills.