Thanks for this. I often get downvoted in online conversations when I mention that I bike on the sidewalk. People claim that it's illegal everywhere or that I'm out here mowing down pedestrians or something. This is the US we're talking here...outside of major urban areas, there are really hardly ever that many people on the sidewalk. It's not hard to give pedestrians space while cycling on the sidewalk unless you're in an urban area. I'm sure as hell not needlessly risking my life in some dangerously suicidal excuse for a "bike lane" here in the US. Painting a bike symbol on the shoulder of a 50mph road and calling it a "bike lane" is ridiculous.