You can ride on the sidewalks here if they are 2 metres across, don't have any signs that prohibits this, or if your wheels are 24 inches or less... this is designed for children although my daughters hate the sidewalk and like dad, prefer to take the lane.
In the winter the sidewalks become one of the best /safest routes when the roads are piled deep with snow and the lanes narrow and as far as I have been told by the police, they won't ticket cyclists who use the sidewalks in these conditions.
My loophole...
As a courier I do spend a little time on the sidewalks as I roll up to buildings but it really isn't a place I like to ride as you can't make any good time and it just isn't that safe.