I know we can use the sidewalks here if we choose to. No law against that. Some multilane throughways have extra wide sidewalks for that purpose. There are no bike lanes. In the city, wider tires are better to absorb the rough pavement and curb hopping. You don't need suspension though. Road bikes are at home on the open road but thats not to say they can't go in the city. Its just not the best choice. If you have a combination of open road, city and urban, some of the hybrids would serve you well. If you need performance and speed, a road bike would be needed. Its really all a compromise in what you want to use it for. There isn't a single type of bicycle that will serve all needs perfectly. You just have to decide what you're willing to compromise and choose accordingly. Best of luck.