City streets are one thing, but on highways with an actual speed of 55+, I feel safer when I don't have to share a lane with traffic. The highways aren't nearly as pleasant as the back roads, that's for sure (except for the shallower grades, which is definitely worth the traffic on a day when I'm sore), but IMO they're safer, and obviously they're quicker just by being direct.



I know the difference between 15 and 23 is enormous when you're on a bicycle, but when you're in a car doing 55, I don't think that difference between bicyclists is significant at all.