I think I forgot about pedestrians on my other post. I wouldn't ride on a pavement around a retirement home or somewhere similar. I usually ride on country roads and less public places. The only time I ever ride on paths is on the way up a big hill just in case I fall off or something and into the path of a car trying to overtake. Even some of the big hills I push it up on the path.
And regarding the helmets in Mike's post: I always wear a HiVis jacket and helmet and I don't really care if I ride into college wearing them looking like a "dork". At least I have rode into college alive
