Originally Posted by Serge *******
How do you not encounter any cars? As you're riding the wrong way, are there no driveways to your left?
On the first street no. On the second street riding the shoulder/sidewalk allows me the luxury of going slow enough to be in control of that situation, and I can stop at will without fear of being run down from behind. On both streets in the right lane I would encounter cross-traffic trying to pull quickly out into fast traffic with limited visibility - a squeeze play. The left shoulder is superior in that case as well.
As to the downhill with no shoulder and poor sightlines - take the lane!
So after they run me over at 45MPH I can act all superior and chastise them for driving too fast or not paying enough attention? There's nothing superior about being dead/maimed.
Yes, on a bicycle I am an inferior vehicle. I always keep that firmly in mind when I ride on the street. Motorists accept collisions as a fact of life and worth the risk to get around faster. On a bicycle I can't/won't/don't. YMMV