The answer should be protected bike lanes and separated bike paths/trails. But, US cities generally have very few of those, preferring to skimp by just using st

The answer should be protected bike lanes and separated bike paths/trails. But, US cities generally have very few of those, preferring to skimp by just using strips of paint. Hence the situation you end up with here: some go into the meager bike lanes, some feel more comfortable taking the lane, and some feel safer on protected walk lanes, aka sidewalks.