hi snoopy! Make sure to check out the "Advice for new commuters" sticky thread.

IMO two essential sites on how to ride safely in traffic are:

http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm Street Smarts

http://www.bicyclesafe.com/ the "How not to get hit by cars" page

The further away from the gutter you ride, the less debris there is. Additionally, You can get puncture-resistant tires , search this forum for "armadillo" and "marathon" to see people's opinions about two popular kinds.

Welcome to the fun...!