Like some others that have posted here, I don't ride on "get somewhere" public roads much, if at all any more. I ride MUP/cart path 95% of the time. There is a park nearby with a dead end road that leads to it. Very lightly travelled. On a very seldom occasion I will ride just outside my own neighborhood.
Bright shirt, flashing rear light any time I am on the road. When I rode in groups I wore a helmet all the time, but admittedly have gotten lax about doing so.
Mostly I just ride the paths and keep my speed down. As of late I ride much more for the enjoyment of it than any real exercise I am getting from it. My weight shows it.