Anyone familiar with Sarasota?

I will be shipping my Madone to Sarasota next month and want to do a lot of riding.

I'll be on Bird Key, so I have causeway issues no matter what. Do you feel safe riding in the roadway on the Ringling Causeway or do you limit yourself to those narrow walkways?

What about the other routes I see online to Siesta Key and north into Bradenton and Long Boat Key? Any favorites or places where there is concern?