That’s terrible.
Which is why I ride against traffic. I ride my cheap ‘mountain’ bike 2 or 3 times a week, on the rural asphalt road near our house, for about a mile to get to a 2 mile deadend loop (which is 2/3 gravel). So, it is only about 4 miles total.
My head is on a swivel as I ride against the occasional vehicle traffic, switching to the right ‘lane’ if someone is coming at me. (I have ‘defense’ measures with me, if I should need those)
I try to set a quick pace, because I’m not interested in riding all that long. I never have liked sitting on the narrow seat, even though mine is padded.
Me too, ride towards traffic, or on the sidewalk. I will stop for pedestrians, but I am not mixing it up with cars. I stick mostly to back roads, and residential areas if near a major road. Mirrors, head on a swivel, and keep the phone in the carrier.
In my town riding against traffic will get you a ticket if you are lucky…or killed if you aren’t.
Of course we are not rural. MA just passed a law requiring giving bicyclists a wider berth. Not sure why they needed a law, it’s just common rules of the road stuff.