Attempts at universal behavior control aside, for where I ride, 'the math doesn't work' for 'minimizing anger against cyclists' by avoiding sidewalks - here's why. My choice is between riding on sparsely used sidewalks or heavily used roads. The ratio where I have to make the choice is at least 10 cars to 1 sidewalk user. The folks on those roads are 1) controlling thousands of pounds of high speed metal boxes, 2) distracted by texting, radio, other drivers, complications of their own lives, 3) isolated from having to interact with other humans on a personal level. The folks on the sidewalk are not subject to #1 , most of #2 , and MOST IMPORTANTLY #3 . So absent the rest of my point below, the math is do I anger hundreds of distracted drivers controlling tons of threatening machines or do I anger tens of pedestrians who present significant lower threat.

But that's not the important part IMHO . . . the important difference is that I have the opportunity to interact with the pedestrians on a personal level - I can be polite and respect their activities by slowing down and asking permission to pass (giving them time to adjust). I can thank them for allowing me to pass. It's all about contact at a personal level. There's no opportunity for this with people driving in cars.

I will continue to ride on sidewalks where the above applies. The rest of you can choose for yourselves.