Perhaps a hybrid that is closer to a road bike in style? That's why I ride a Giant Roam 2, fairly narrow tires with some lugs on the side for the rough patches, grass and gravel, 29" wheels, trigger shifters with a higher end gearing. I can hunker down to get aero and use SPD clippless to maximize the power. Although I still stop and pull my bike up curbs, I'm just so freaking clumsy that the last time I tried to hop a curb I ended up on my side in the road

And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE to NOT let this be another thread that degenerates into a free for all about riding on the sidewalk.