No, running a lower gear is handy as you can skid/skip easier. And it is stupid to base a setup on skid patches. Ride what works best, if you skid to stop with no brakes and are worried about wearing out a tire use cheap tires. Or once a week remove the wheel, lift the chain off the cog and rotate the wheel forward and put back on. New unworn spot to skid on. If the op is worried about the ability to stop and avoid peds on campus, he/she needs to ride slower and use a brake.