If people doubt riding on the sidewalk is dangerous to the cyclist and others, here are two episodes in two days in Toronto.

A 56 year old woman was walking on the sidewalk Thursday afternoon and a 15 year old cyclist approaching facing her knocked her down. She later died in hospital. He has not been charged. It's suggested he tried to avoid her, and she did the same and maybe moved to the same side and they collided. He was legally on the sidewalk as he had 24" wheels.

http://www.thestar.com/article/678257

A man suffered serious injuries when hit by a car entering a mall as he was crossing the entrance on a sidewalk. He was a "wrongway" cyclist (it says he was southbound and presumably on the east side, since Yorkdale Mall is on the east side of Dufferin) but that shouldn't have been a problem as the car was coming from the northbound lanes.

http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local.../?hub=CP24Home

Both episodes occurred in daylight.