I've never had a problem with my feet/ankles while riding so I guess I just never thought of it as that much of a hazard issue. It always seemed to me that it was a hazard prevention tactic. The more you know!

I feel better knowing that I don't "need" clipless... I ran into a group of sharp looking cyclists near the apothecary when I left the hospital and they were very disappointed that I didn't use clipless; apparently I couldn't be considered a cyclist unless I did!

Melalvai, I read your article and laughed a little. I just learned a week or so ago that bikes don't belong on sidewalks and are in fact allowed to use the actual road lanes, and your route sounds a little like the one I am faced with (narrow, steep drop offs...). It feels good to know others before me had to learn and adapt with the same learning experience.