I Did It!

[carpaltunnel]

It does sound like we do it differently than your city. Cincinatti may be more advanced and bicycle friendly than you think.

Yes, we can ride on the sidewalks; in fact I think it's expected. The city trail system sometimes uses the sidewalks, but makes them double wide or more where it's designated "trail". We have buttons on the corners to trigger a crossing light, but that still allows the drivers to turn right into us. Our crossing lane and light is the same as for the people who would be on the sidewalk, if anyone walked. So someone turning right on a red would come around the corner first, then hit us in the crossing lane. It's nearly happened to me several times, on non-commute rides, but I was watching for them and saw it coming.

I couldn't get out with the cars on the major streets. Of the very few bike commuters I see, I don't see anyone else doing it either on those streets. The traffic is too fast and densely packed - they would just as soon kill me as look at me. In fact they wouldn't even see me before they did the deed.
But thanks anyway! I can see if the drivers were aware of bike safety that would be the thing to do.