I was taught to ride on the shoulder facing oncoming traffic. If a situation occurred I would be able to see it coming and take evasive action. A drunk driver can sneak up behind you and you'll never know what hit you. Happened to a relative of mine.
Which brings to mind laws that say cars should stop for pedestrians. If someone doesn't obey that law, it's the pedestrian who loses. I'm not willing to take that chance. I pretend to be walking until I see a chance to cross.
My safety is up to me. I can't leave it up to the other guy.
"I was taught to ride on the shoulder facing oncoming traffic."
If you're not actually on the road, that is perfectly legal. What I'm talking about, however, is actually on the road, at which point bicyclists are bound by the same laws as all other vehicular traffic. Riding against traffic, on the roadway, is insane.