If you're going to play by the ODDS...

This site states, "Bicycling on the street is >20 times safer than riding on the sidewalk..."
http://brenthugh.com/piano/bikesafetyfactsheet.html
And it does cite it's sources for making that statement.

Here's a site with a little informal survey that supports this, as well:
http://www.thinkbicycles.org/2012/04...ollision-zone/

More studies:
http://onelesscar.wordpress.com/2008...oad-bicycling/

So, the ODDS are far greater for an accident when riding on the sidewalks than riding properly on the street.