I agree that using raw numbers without any comparison of the volume of bicycle traffic lowers the usefulness of the chart. There is also another factor that makes the Chron's list less useful than it might appear at first: the length of the stretches of many of the listed roads. Lumping long stretches of road of varying configurations isn't all that instructive.

Clayton Road has already been mentioned. From Ygnacio Valley Rd. through Clayton and on out to Morgan Territory, it is either has reasonable shoulders or low enough car traffic (at least on weekends) to make for okay riding, while the rest of the road is unpleasant at the best of times (Sunday morning) and dangerous at others.

Then there's Highway 84 in San Mateo County. Not only does it's safety depend on where and when you are riding, but even which direction. I would not ride up the Skyline from teh east on 84 at any time, but that stretch of road is fine for coming back down. On the other hand, climbing up 84 to Skyline from the ocean is generally okay in my admittedly limited experience.

84 in Alameda County ranges from typical urban riding (in Fremont) to pretty but unpleasant (parts of Niles Canyon) to dangerous (other parts of Niles Canyon) to a downright death trap that anyone in their right mind avoids (Vallecitos Rd - I'm curious how that will be for riding once the new copnstructionover Pidgeon Pass is finished).

As for Silverado Trail, that has to be a function of volume of bike traffic. Yes, the car traffic goes fast as hell, but there are ample shoulders along virtually the entire length of the road. Highway 29 is a far more dangerous place to ride through the Napa Valley except fairly early on weekend days, but it isn't on the list.

Obviously, I could go on, but I've wasted enough of your precious time here. In any event, please be careful and safe, everybody. But let's also not be unduly paranoid.