I just started commuting and I like going off the main roads and just ride across different neighborhoods. I like the little traffic on the neighborhood roads and find that to be safe. I have been working in this building for about two years and I just started commuting on bicycle, it took me this long due to not knowing how to get here from a different route other than main and busy road.
Because I just started commuting I can't tell if this is the best or not but so far is going well.
I do wear reflective and bright colors clothing and three blinking rear lights one on the bike's rack, one clipped to my backpack and one on the back of my helmet. I have a blinking front light on the fork just about the hub, one bright light mounted on the fork crown and one on the handlebar and another one on the top of my helmet. I also have like six little LEDs (neon blue) battery operated along the down tube and another six on the seat stay.

Better safe than sorry.