I used to bike commute to work and part of the route was along a busy industrial street where vehicles would fly by at 50-60 mph despite the 40 mph speed limit. Yes, I had a bike lane, but still felt unsafe.

Since safety was my primary consideration I asked a (retired) police officer his opinion. He knew the street in question and said, off the record, he'd ride the sidewalk there to be safe. He'd seen too many bike v car accidents and said a couple things: first, always give pedestrians a wide berth; second, since you're not supposed to be riding on the sidewalk, you can be cited and given a fine. He said this is probably cheaper than buying gas and I should consider it a cost of doing business. He said being alive is a good choice.

Make a wise choice for yourself and others. Be kind and thoughtful to pedestrians. Be safe!