When I first started cycling 10 years go, pedestrians would yell at me for being on the sidewalk so I quickly learned to ride in the street and I haven't stopped since. You do have to be more aware and aggressive but I also think it's easier than being on the sidewalk. No street signs, pedestrians, curbs to deal with. There's also so many dangers coming off of a curb and into an intersection. Drivers don't see you or expect you. So I encourage cyclists to use the street and would never discourage them from doing so. Their fitness level may not be up there but I believe they will become better after practicing. You'll also learn the rules of the road too. We weren't all ballsy from the get-go to take a whole lane or make a left from a left turn lane when we need to.

I was able to get my bf to ride in the street and if he can do it, I think anyone can. He is the biggest wuss about traffic but he's gotten the hang of it.

I've never *discouraged* anyone from cycling on a roadway, but there are a few locations where I've suggested well-designed off-road paths as alternate routes because I thought the cyclists would enjoy them more, for their trip purposes and endpoints.

There was one time when I was asked about sidewalk cycling that I didn't dismiss it entirely. Near the end of a group ride for novices that I was leading, we needed to make a left turn from a side street onto a busy 45 mph arterial and then another left turn into a park shortly thereafter. When we arrived at the first intersection I explained to the group how I would be leading the ride onto and off of the arterial in the vehicular manner, but I explained that if they weren't comfortable doing that, they could elect to use the left side sidewalk instead. I told them that I didn't endorse it, and that they would have to be careful of drivers at driveways, but that it was legal.

All of the novices elected to use the sidewalk. I proceeded on the roadway, and arrived at the park before they did, but nobody got hurt either way and I set the example I wanted to set.