Originally Posted by FenderTL5

I live in the Bellevue community in TN, it's a suburban area inside the city limits of Nashville TN.
It is very much exactly the way you described it. I commute from Bellevue into downtown, usually multi-modal (it's 16+ miles 1 way with lots of hills).

I have one road where the posted speed limit is 45, yet the avg speed is closer to 55mph. There's insufficient width for sharing the lane, no shoulder (at all in spots), and certainly no bike lane. It is on the city's short term plan for the addition of a bike lane but there's no time-table given. I have learned how to position myself in the lane of traffic to enter with a string of cars and control the lane. When I first started riding, I tried hugging the white line. I was brushed twice (literally had mirrors hit). Cars would move over to pass, but with oncoming traffic and insufficient width, they'd swerve back. Now, I just deal with the grief for the short amount of time I'm on that road, controlling the lane. I then turn off as soon as I cross a bridge/river into neighborhood streets and wind through parallel.


I ride through neighborhoods, parking lots, on the shoulder where it exists, and of course in a bike lane where provided. I use three rear lights/blinkies, three up front and wear a reflective, hi-viz vest in the burb. Most of that is unnecessary downtown unless it's dark or raining.
So far I've not ridden sidewalks for two reasons, First, there's not one on my route. Secondly, it is a traffic violation in the city limits.