If I can't go the speed of traffic (marked speed I mean, not necessarily de facto speed), I don't take the lane. 99% of those places around here have a shoulder or bike lane. Sidewalk is also legal*, which I do if I need to wrong-way, I don't wrong-way in a bike lane or on a shoulder.


*except for one downtown business district but that's back in take-the-lane speed areas, except when my kids are on their bikes.