Yeah, I'm not really a big fan of city riding either. Cambridge streets are scary and full of potholes big enough to swallow a car. I rode in today and managed to find a good route home that's either on bike path or on a road with a big huge bike lane.
I just love riding on the bike path down fresh pond parkway looking at the line of cars stretching for 2 miles that is completely stopped in both directions that I'd normally be sitting in in my car. I just fly past them...suckers!
I rode in again today, thought it was gonna rain on the way home, but the storms went West. I love this commute!
It's only worth it if you're having fun