After being hit by a car years ago, I have been avoiding roads
since I started riding again. When I finally did ride on a road,
It had a 4 ft. shoulder, and I was on it. Every time a car would
go by a 60mph, I would cringe.

I have been riding on some roads lately. I have a rail trail about 200 ft
from my house. In a rural community, that is paved for 72 miles. And
goes another 50 unpaved.