Bout the only time I touch a sidewalk is if there ain't no other way to get where I want to go or if I have to jump the curb to get out of the way of a moron. You ain't gonna do 15-20mph on no sidewalk, at least not safely.

Yeah, there are morons now and then, but the route I have chosen bypasses many of the main arteries, except for short stretches of less than a mile. Much of it is on a parkway that has bike path running next to it. I ride the road, not the path, though I will jump on the path from time to time for shortcuts, when it is the safest route and sometimes to just move out of traffic when folks want to pass. Drivers seem to appreciate when you show that you are courteous enough to get out of their path when you have an obvious alternative just a white line away. Anyway, the parkway has it's own dangers, blind curves, deep darkness, lotsa critters running around, including deer and of course cagers that are busy yaking on a cell phone. I really don't worry much about the morons, it's the other folks that just don't pay attention that you gotta watch...so ya gotta watch everyone, always know what is going on around you and always plan for Murphy's Law. I have a cynical saying that has done me well for a lot of years - always assume the other person is going to do the stupidest thing possible, and have an escape plan ready for if and when they do it. I'm not going to tell you how many times I have been hit by a motorist, because it is so low after almost 40 years riding that I don't want to jinx myself. Ride safe, ride predictably, ride competently and most importantly, always be aware of what is going on around you and you'll be fine.