I agree that it's unsafe.

I always had a similar dilemma living downtown. Depending on the time of day, I had a lot of traffic to deal with. I did it, but I didn't like it. From there, I could ride up the Monon but that meant going through an area where there have been repeated safety issues. Plus, by the time I got anywhere decent to ride, I would have already ridden 10-15 miles. So, more often than not, I just drove to ride. It was a PITA for sure and not exactly green. With our new house, we can just ride straight from home. It feels like such a treat.

That said, I do think with some additional experience, you will find a route that you can navigate from Speedway. I'll look at a map when I have a chance. Are you hoping to head due west or northwest?