When I first moved to Chicago, I was baffled that adults weren't allowed to ride on the sidewalks. Someone I almost ran over had to tell me about it. It makes sense because so many people in Chicago can walk, but it never occurred to me because I was coming from Cincinnati which is a commuter town.

I understand all of what you're saying. Did you miss the part where I said I wasn't bothered by it, but that I just didn't like it? Biking to work around where I live isn't a realistic option for the majority of people due to the fact that the actual city, and most of the jobs, is 20-30 minutes away. Part of the reason I don't like it is because every time I see a biker I worry a bit for them, there have been a lot of crashes involving bikers around where I live due to the narrow roads. I'm all for wider lanes and might start riding my bike on them if they were available. Also the atmosphere around here is toxic for bike riders, I've seen people yell at bikers, and even once throw a drink at one.

really?! even my hometown of 5,500 in rural pennsylvania has a law about adults riding bikes on the sidewalk.

I need to get my wheel trued for the summer and my back brake cable replaced, but when we first moved here, we had one vehicle which the wife used, and I biked to work. We lived in central Austin. I biked 7.5 miles south to work, taught at a middle school, biked 12.5 miles north to work to teach at a high school, and biked 10.5 miles home. 28.5 miles total, definitely more than an hour on the bike, in hills the like of which don't exist in chicago, in heat that rivals satan's armpit.

Biking to work isn't a realistic option for you because you haven't done it yet, but it's totally possible, and I guarantee you, there are people doing it.