This varies with the cyclist, of course. My sister-in-law, who lives in a first-ring suburb of Cleveland and never learned to drive a car, still rides her bike on the sidewalk at slow speed, as she was taught as a child. Not how I would want to do it, but it seems safe for her, as she has never had a serious accident in over 50 years of riding a bike around town. She's obviously very careful. I don't preach VC to her, as she is terrified of car traffic and would be far too nervous to handle herself well enough to integrate with it, so I leave well enough alone. She's the most truly pedestrian-style cyclist I know, and it seems to work for her.

General point taken, genec, just wanted to speak up for her perspective. I really don't think she travels more than two or three times ped speed, if that. (We just bought her a bike to keep here when she visits us, so next time she's here, I want to go out with her and measure her speed.)